AIP Capital has formed a consortium with South Korean aviation finance, investment, and management consulting firm Dreamstone Partners.
The consortium aims to establish an aviation leasing and investment platform to pursue investment opportunities in the aviation sector in Korea, as well as within other parts of Asia and the broader Asia Pacific region.
The consortium plans to initiate a global M&A request for proposal (RFP) process in the second half of 2025 through a leading M&A advisory firm. It also intends to continue acquiring global leasing platforms in cooperation with Korean private equity and asset management firms, with significant interest already expressed by investors.
Furthermore, AIP Capital is planning to purchase a large number of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft through its actively managed 450bn Korean won ($323.3 million) pre-delivery payment (PDP) financing fund and private debt platform, in partnership with domestic banks and insurance companies. These aircraft will be leased to major global airlines.
AIP recently participated in Dreamstone Partners' capital increase, becoming the company's second largest shareholder.
Through this consortium, Dreamstone Partners has recruited specialists across various fields such as global aviation investment, risk management, legal, and operations. With the establishment of an aviation investment system, the company is now regarded as Korea’s first specialized aviation investment firm, marking a significant upgrade in its business capabilities.
“Through the Korea-based consortium aircraft investment platform, we intend to recruit investment professionals and establish a robust investment system, offering integrated services to Korean investors including investment review, execution, and post-management," said AIP Capital managing partner Jared Ailstock. “This represents a strategic approach different from that of traditional foreign aviation investment firms.”
In addition, AIP Capital said it plans to leverage its partnership with Witt Lake Asset Management, a private credit platform with assets under management of approximately 1.5 trillion Korean won ($1 billion). They aim to collaborate with Korean pension funds and insurance companies.