The investment will see AIP Capital become a ~30% shareholder of Dreamstone Aviation Partners and provides a platform for the two institutions to grow their aviation footprint in the region.
SEOUL, DUBLIN AND STAMFORD, June 22, 2023 – AIP Capital (“AIP”), a global aviation asset management and investment firm, announces the closing of a minority investment and joint venture agreement with Dreamstone Aviation Partners (“Dreamstone”), a subsidiary of Dreamstone Partners. AIP will hold ~30% of the shares in DAP and will join the board of directors. The joint venture agreement will provide for greater cooperation between the two firms as AIP seeks to expand in Korea and the broader APAC region.
Dreamstone Aviation Partners is a Korea-based consulting and investment firm that focuses specifically on the aviation sector by providing lease consulting, fundraising and airline IT systems to the APAC region. The founder, Kenneth Kang is recognized as a pioneer and opinion leader in Korea.
Jared Ailstock, Managing Partner of AIP commented, “We are delighted to formalize our partnership with Dreamstone and Kenneth, who has been a partner with us for close to a decade. Dreamstone is one of the premier aviation teams in Korea with deep expertise across the sector. As investor appetite in Korea returns post-pandemic, we are confident this partnership will allow us to capitalize on those opportunities.”
Kenneth Kang, CEO of Dreamstone Aviation Partners commented, “We expect the partnership between AIP and Dreamstone to be an effective platform supporting our go-to-market strategy. We are confident that innovative ideas combined with decades of industry experience between the two firms will help us successfully execute the strategy today and in the future.”
Gibson Dunn acted as legal advisor to AIP in the U.S. with Shin & Kim advising in Korea. PwC provided tax advice.
About AIP Capital
AIP Capital (“AIP”) is a differentiated global aviation asset management and investment firm with offices in Dublin, Ireland and Stamford, Connecticut. The company was founded in 2023 by an established team with nearly three decades of combined experience and ~$10bn of capital deployed across debt and equity in the aviation sector. AIP Capital currently owns and manages ~30 aircraft which totals ~$1.68bn along with an orderbook of ~68 aircraft.
For more information about AIP Capital or to speak with company executives, please contact info@aipcapital.com.
About Dreamstone Partners
The firm was founded in 2019 by three partners including Seungwoo Yang, a former chairman of Deloitte Korea, Myungkyu Choi, a former CIO of Eugene Private Equity, and Kenneth Kang, Head of Aviation at Shinhan Investment Group. Since it commenced operations, Dreamstone has completed ~$1bn in aircraft acquisitions.<p