Aerospace

AE Industrial Partners Fund III, LP (AEIF III) is the third flagship private equity fund of AE Industrial Partners (AEI), a Boca Raton, Florida-based investment firm founded in 2015 that has grown to manage $9 billion in total assets across private equity, aircraft leasing, and venture capital strategies. Launched in 2023 and achieving its final close in July 2024 at $1.28 billion in capital commitments, AEIF III secured backing from an institutional investor base comprising leading endowments, charitable foundations, public and corporate pension funds, financial institutions, funds of funds, family offices, and sovereign wealth funds. The fund is co-led by Michael Greene and David Rowe, Co-CEOs and Managing Partners, who together oversee a 109-person professional team with deep relationships across AEI's target end markets. AE Industrial Partners Fund III pursues control investments in market-leading companies occupying critical supply-chain "toll gate" positions across the U.S. aerospace, defense, national security, and industrial services sectors, with a focus on businesses positioned to scale production in response to sustained and growing demand from government and commercial end markets. The fund's investment mandate targets differentiated, mission-critical businesses with long-product-lifecycle characteristics—companies where AEI's specialized industry knowledge, operating experience, and relationships create tangible competitive advantage. The strategy encompasses both organic growth initiatives and acquisition-driven consolidation, leveraging AEI's established network of industry relationships built across 155-plus investments closed since 2015. Co-investment of nearly $870 million alongside Fund III capital commitments has been extended to limited partners and other investors, underscoring the depth of AEI's deal flow and institutional LP relationships. As of its announcement, AE Industrial Partners Fund III had already deployed more than 25% of committed capital into five platform investments and three add-on acquisitions: York Space Systems (commercial spacecraft manufacturing), RedLattice (cybersecurity and defense technology), Firefly Aerospace (launch vehicles and spacecraft), Yingling Aviation (aviation services), and Calca Solutions (specialty industrial services). These investments reflect AEIF III's core thesis—backing companies at the intersection of national security, advanced manufacturing, and space—sectors experiencing structural tailwinds from increased U.S. defense budgets, commercial space expansion, and supply-chain modernization initiatives. AE Industrial Partners' cumulative platform of $9 billion in AUM and 50-plus current portfolio companies positions Fund III within a market-leading franchise that has consistently been among the most active private equity investors in U.S. aerospace and defense since the firm's founding.

J.F. Lehman & Company (“JFLCO”)'s is a continuation fund for JFL Credit Opportunities I, L.P. Credit Fund I’s assets under management include new capital commitments as well as the portfolio of credit positions formerly held indirectly by JFL Equity Investor VI, L.P. and its affiliates (“Fund VI”) in high-quality, middle-market companies within the firm’s target industries (aerospace, defense, government, maritime, environmental and infrastructure sectors). Pantheon, a leading global private markets investor, acted as the lead investor, with StepStone Group also participating. JFLCO’s credit strategy is opportunistic in nature, spanning syndicated credit, secondary direct lending and distressed situations across the firm’s core industries.

The European Defence and Security Tech Fund is a €125 million venture capital vehicle launched by Keen Venture Partners to back early-stage technology companies innovating in defence, security, and space. Anchored by a €40 million investment from the European Investment Fund (EIF) under the European Commission’s Defence Equity Facility, the fund is one of the first dedicated initiatives aimed at enhancing Europe’s strategic autonomy in defence innovation. The fund targets 20 to 25 companies operating at the seed to Series B stages, focusing on advanced technologies such as cyber defence, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, robotics, and space security. Keen Venture Partners aims to identify and support startups that can contribute to Europe's dual-use capabilities and resilience in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment. Operating out of Amsterdam and London, Keen Venture Partners brings a thesis-driven, founder-centric approach. The team’s previous track record in deeptech investments and partnerships with institutional actors positions the fund to become a central actor in the European defence tech ecosystem. The vehicle is open to startups across the EU, the UK, Norway, and Turkey.

The Manulife Capital Partners VII (MCP VII) private credit fund has closed at $752m and will focus on 20-30 portfolio companies with over $20m in EBITDA. The fund will target sectors including business services, industrial manufacturing, aerospace and defence, as well as building products. MCP VII aims to provide high yield with equity upside through investment of junior credit capital in US middle market companies. It is backed by a global investor base of institutional and private capital investors, including a capital commitment from Manulife. The fund's investment approach includes a target mix of subordinated and second-lien debt and structured and common equity, allowing for meaningful participation in growth balanced by the potential for double-digit yield. The veteran team has deployed more than US$3.3 billion into 126 companies as a result of their experience and ability to bring flexible capital to a selective portfolio of companies that meet their investment criteria. The fund is managed by Josh Liebow and Matt Szwarc, who serve as Portfolio Managers.