AE Industrial Partners (AEI), a private equity firm, has announced a partnership with Boeing to manage and invest in HorizonX Ventures, Boeing's venture capital fund. This partnership augments AEI's capabilities by focusing on early-stage minority equity investments in transformative technologies and businesses that will define the future of AEI's target markets through the development of new capabilities and an expansion of sustainable aviation.
HorizonX's current portfolio of more than 40 global investments will become a dedicated investment fund and will be AEI's ventures platform, operating as AEI HorizonX. The fund will be anchored by new capital commitments from Boeing, AEI and others. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
AEI HorizonX will initially consist of HorizonX's existing portfolio combined with new investments in these major themes: mobility, space and connectivity, industrial tech, and enterprise digital solutions, with a broader emphasis on sustainability.
The AEI HorizonX team will be led by Brian Schettler and will include investing professionals from HorizonX and AEI. The team will manage the existing portfolio, seek new investments, and will provide early-stage companies with a broad set of platform services including access to resources and opportunities within both Boeing and AEI's portfolio companies.
"As a specialist investment firm with a focus on aerospace and industrial markets, AEI is constantly monitoring technology innovations that will drive transformational change and reimagine the future of our industry," said David Rowe, managing partner at AEI. "The AEI HorizonX platform will provide us with a foundation to build out a new investing pillar focused on transformative businesses and technologies critical to the evolution of our target markets and their impact on the environment. We are excited to partner with Boeing to invest in a more sustainable future."
"The HorizonX team is excited to join AEI and expand the firm's focus on the innovative startup ecosystem that is addressing the future needs and capabilities of aerospace and sustainability," said Brian Schettler, incoming partner at AEI and head of AEI HorizonX. "This differentiated partnership and structure between AEI and Boeing will bring unique value to our current and future portfolio. Not only will we be able to source, invest, and promote new early-stage companies but we will support the founders with the scaling of their businesses; businesses that are transforming the mobility of people, goods and data, all while enabling a more sustainable industry."
Kirkland & Ellis served as legal advisor to AEI. Mayer Brown served as legal advisor to Boeing.