AJW Group and Arena Investors announced a joint venture focused on selective acquisitions of commercial aircraft, engines and components. The partnership leverages AJW’s operational expertise and global network together with Arena’s extensive experience in aviation-related investments. Through a newly formed entity based in Dublin, AJW and Arena will jointly acquire a targeted portfolio of aircraft and engines to be managed and monetised through AJW’s global network. The joint venture will be funded with committed capital of up to US$100 million.
AJW is an independent specialist in the supply, lease and repair of aircraft components and a supply chain solution provider to over 1,000 airlines. The joint venture will feed engines and components into AJW’s global inventory utilising the extensive repair capabilities of AJW Technique, the group’s maintenance hub based in Montreal. Arena Investors is an institutional asset manager founded in partnership with The Westaim Corporation. With US$2.2 billion of committed assets under management as of January 2021 and a team of over 80 employees in offices globally, Arena provides creative solutions for companies seeking capital in special situations and transactions that cannot be addressed by banks and other conventional financial institutions.
Vivek Nayar of Arena Investors said “We are thrilled to be forming a partnership with AJW, one of the most storied and reputable firms in the aviation services industry, with its wide geographical reach and customer base. AJW’s experience, combined with Arena’s flexible capital solutions, are especially relevant at a time when there are great liquidity needs in the industry. We look forward to helping to solve those needs.”
Ian Malin, chief financial officer of AJW Group, said “We are pleased to be working with Arena on this exciting project. Arena brings a vast and diverse experience to the table investing in the aviation sector in complement to AJW’s extensive operational expertise. There are a number of compelling opportunities in the marketplace which we look forward to pursuing together.”