Profile

Founded in 1998, AE Industrial Partners (AEI) is a private investment firm with $6.2 billion of assets under management, focusing on highly specialized markets including national security, aerospace, and industrial services. The firm has completed more than 130 investments in market-leading companies, leveraging its deep industry knowledge, operating experience, and extensive network of relationships across the sectors in which it invests.

AEI is dedicated to accelerating the growth of middle-market companies, a philosophy that has driven the firm’s expansion into the aerospace and defense sectors where it saw a significant need for institutional capital. Often serving as the first institutional investor for privately held businesses, AEI is a growth-oriented partner, working closely with strong management teams to create long-term value through a combination of organic and acquisition-based growth initiatives.

The firm has a proven track record of helping companies rapidly scale their operations and break into new markets. In addition to its private equity investments, AEI has a venture capital arm and an aerospace leasing platform.

Awards

2024 Top Private Equity Firms

Key People

Mike Greene, Co-CEO and Managing Partner

Mike Greene is the Co-CEO and Managing Partner at AE Industrial Partners and is responsible for the overall management of the firm, primarily focusing on the negotiating, executing and monitoring of portfolio investments. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of AE Industrial portfolio company Moeller Aerospace. He is also a member of the Firm’s Management Committee and the firm’s Responsible Investment Committee.

David Rowe, Co-CEO and Managing Partner

David Rowe is the Co-CEO and Managing Partner at AE Industrial and is responsible for managing the firm, focusing on negotiating, executing and monitoring portfolio investments. He co-founded AE Industrial’s predecessor firm, AeroEquity Partners, Inc., in 1998 and has been involved in all of the firm’s investments since inception. David currently serves on the Board of Directors of AE Industrial portfolio companies: Altus Fire & Life Safety, Edge Autonomy, Global Jet Capital and Kellstrom Aerospace, and is a member of the Firm’s ManagementCommittee.

Charlie Compton, Managing Partner

Charlie Compton is a Managing Partner at AE Industrial and is primarily focused on originating, executing and monitoring the firm’s portfolio investments, notably as they relate to the aerospace sector. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of AE Industrial portfolio companies: AIM MRO, Blue Raven Solutions, G.S. Precision, Kellstrom Aerospace and Moeller Aerospace, and is a member of the Firm’s Management Committee.

Kirk Konert, Managing Partner

Kirk Konert is a Managing Partner at AE Industrial and is primarily focused on originating, executing and monitoring the firm’s portfolio investments, especially as they relate to opportunities within the space arena. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of AE Industrial portfolio companies: Belcan, BigBear.ai, Calca Solutions, Columbia Helicopters, Firefly Aerospace, Redwire, ThayerMahan and York Space Systems. He is also a member of the Firm’s Management Committee and the firm’s Responsible Investment Committee.

Jon Nemo, Managing Partner

Jon Nemo is a Managing Partner at AE Industrial and focuses on the origination, execution and monitoring of portfolio investments, notably within the aviation and aerospace sectors. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of AE Industrial portfolio companies: AIM MRO, Alpine Air, Applied Composites, The Atlas Group, Blue Raven Solutions, CDI Engineering Solutions and Yingling Aviation, and is a member of the firm’s Management Committee.

Funds Raised

Key Investments

AIM MRO: Acquired December 2019
Sector: Aerospace

AIM MRO is a leading manufacturer and supply chain manager of highly engineered consumable repair products and materials used primarily in the aerospace engine aftermarket. The company has differentiated itself by offering a “one-stop-shop” serving aerospace engine and gas turbine Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (“MRO”) facilities worldwide in their demand for highly engineered consumable parts and materials used in the repair of flight critical engine components.

American Pacific Corporation (AMPAC): Acquired February 2020, Realized January 2024
Sector: Industrial Services

American Pacific produces highly specialized chemicals through proprietary processes for use in missile defense, space launch, pharmaceutical, and fire suppression applications.

AE Industrial sold American Pacific to NewMarket Corporation for $700 million.

BHI Energy: Acquired August 2017, Realized May 2022
Sector: Industrial Services

BHI Energy is an industry-leading provider of specialty services and staffing solutions supporting the daily operations, routine maintenance and capital investment requirements for the industrial/oil & gas, power generation, and transmission & distribution markets. BHI’s broad service offering enables the company to be an embedded provider of choice to a diverse customer base comprised of blue-chip utility and energy companies

AEI sold BHI Energy to the Westinghouse Electric Company.

Calca Solutions:, Acquired July 2023
Sector: Industrial Services

Calca Solutions is the sole U.S. manufacturer of ultra-pure hydrazine for in-space propellant and hydrazine derivatives for agricultural, water treatment, pharmaceutical and industrial uses. AEI acquired Calca as carveout of a business segment within a large multi-billion-dollar chemicals business.

Calca will serve as the cornerstone of a mission-critical products platform focused on national security, as well as space, aerospace, biotech, and clean energy. Calca is the key supplier of hydrazine to the U.S government for defense and satellite applications. Derivatives of hydrazine are also a key component for critical vaccines and for anti-corrosion agents used in water treatment and nuclear energy facilities.

ENERCON: Acquired February 2021, Realized March 2023
Sector: Industrial Services

ENERCON is a multi-disciplinary engineering and environmental services firm supporting the safe and efficient production, delivery and use of energy. The Company provides a broad range of professional services to private, public, and government sector clients including engineering design, regulatory services, environmental protection, compliance and inspections.

AE Industrial sold ENERCON to Oaktree Capital Management, retaining a minority interest.

Gryphon Technologies: Acquired September 2018, Realized December 2021
Sector: National Security

Gryphon Technologies is a premier engineering and technical services provider specializing in defense systems and integration, naval architecture and marine engineering, test and evaluation, program management, cybersecurity, MRO and logistics. For over 20 years, Gryphon has designed, integrated, maintained, and upgraded state-of-the-art systems, ships and aircraft for the Department of Defense.

AEI sold Gryphon to ManTech International Corporation for $350 million.

REDLattice: Acquired January 2023
Sector: National Security

REDLattice is a mission-focused provider of full spectrum cyber capabilities and technology solutions for customers in the U.S. national security, defense and commercial communities. REDLattice helps its customers deliver mission success by rapidly designing, developing, and implementing cutting edge applications and engineering solutions for some of their most complex challenges. The Company’s subject matter experts in vulnerability research (VR), reverse engineering (RE), tool development, malware analysis, and advanced operational capabilities help to develop the next generation of cyber tools and solutions to the battlespace.

As the offensive cyber domain continues to rapidly evolve, REDLattice provides AEI with a significant foothold in the cyber technology space. The company deploys end-to-end cyber capabilities and innovative solutions that create mission advantages and bring state of the art solutions to the battlespace, using its suite of proprietary tools in vulnerability research and engineering.

Yingling Aviation: Acquired May 2023
Sector: Aerospace

Yingling Aviation is a leading provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and fixed-base operator services to business aviation and government customers throughout the U.S.

With the acquisition of Yingling, AEI established a unique, independent platform of scale that offers best-in-class services within the growing market of aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul. Additionally, the Yingling acquisition included a significant real estate footprint at Wichita’s historic Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport – one of the country’s major aviation hubs, providing AEI with unique access to key markets.

York Space Systems: Acquired November 2022
Sector: Space

York Space Systems is a leading independent provider of small satellites, satellite components and turnkey mission operations to both government and commercial customers. With a suite of spacecraft solutions designed for all mission types, York manufactures satellite buses purposefully designed to balance scalability, manufacturability, and efficiency in order to address the evolving, high-volume demand for small satellite constellations in low earth orbit.

Capital Responsibility

Climate Strategy:  

In the past year, AEI has adapted and advanced its Climate Strategy to ensure the firm achieves a competitive advantage in climate mitigation while adhering to its business objectives and meeting the growing demand for environmentally sustainable practices. This year, AEI also updated its climate strategy to include a Net Zero commitment by 2050.

In January 2024, AEI implemented an internal recycling system in partnership with Waste Management (WM). Firm employees engage in daily recycling of paper, plastic, cardboard, and other items, with WM collecting these materials weekly for proper disposal at a local recycling center.

Governance:

AEI’s Management Committee along with the firm’s senior leadership champion and closely monitor the implementation of their Responsible Investment Policy, Processes, and Practices. AEI’s Responsible Investment Committee oversees, modifies, and ensures effective implementation of the Policy across both the firm and its portfolio companies.

The Responsible Investment Committee convenes quarterly and consists of senior professionals who provide quarterly updates to AEI’s senior governing body, the Valuation, Risk & Operations Committee, on any significant policy modifications or new initiatives related to responsible investment and sustainability at both the firm and portfolio levels.

CEO Reviews

Dr. Reggie Brothers, Former CEO of BigBear.ai and Operating Partner of AEI

“Working with AE Industrial has been a truly outstanding experience. Not only have we benefited from their financial resources, but the access we’ve had to strategic and operational resources within AE Industrial and across their portfolio of companies has been transformational. AE Industrial’s experienced Advisory Board has provided us with broad and deep technical insights and customer intelligence. Through it all, AE Industrial has strongly supported maintaining our company culture, which has been our top priority.”

Pam Braden, Former CEO of Gryphon Technologies and Operating Partner of AEI

“With AE Industrial’s support, Gryphon executed an acquisition plan to better align our capabilities with the DOD’s digital strategy. We successfully integrated five companies in less than 18 months, building our engineering capabilities with digital, cloud, and predictive analytics faster than we could have grown it organically. AE Industrial’s knowledge of the aerospace and defense sector, coupled with their resources and vision, accelerated Gryphon’s position as a market leader.”

Matt O’Connell, President & CEO of G.S. Precision, Inc.

“I was initially attracted to AE Industrial by the firm’s passion for aviation and defense, combined with a focus on culture within their companies and teams. As part of the AE Industrial family, we’ve maintained our entrepreneurial philosophy and innovative approach that has been fundamental to our success, while gaining the support of an experienced team with deep aerospace and defense ties to help us identify new growth opportunities. G.S. Precision’s acquisition of SMC Aerospace is a good example of a transaction which we would not have been able to achieve alone.”