Bridgepoint, one of the world's leading mid-market investors, GFH Bank (“GFH”), a leading Bahrain-headquartered banking and investment institution with over $25 billion in assets and funds under management, and AIP Capital, an alternative investment manager focused on opportunities in asset-based finance, today announced their commitment to a new partnership dedicated to acquiring next-generation commercial aircraft engines.
GFH’s entry as a strategic partner marks the next stage of Bridgepoint and AIP Capital's partnership to acquire a diversified portfolio of over $1 billion in commercial aircraft engines. The partnership began in 2024 with the joint acquisition of an initial portfolio of LEAP-1B engines and has subsequently expanded, including an agreement to purchase a further eleven LEAP-1B engines from CFM International announced in July 2026.
Today's announcement sees GFH commit significant capital as a cornerstone investor and partner in a new dedicated platform, alongside a substantial commitment from Bridgepoint funds. The partners will raise capital from institutional and private wealth investors, scaling towards the partnership's $1 billion portfolio ambition. The partnership also marks GFH's entry into the aviation sector, further expanding its exposure to asset-backed investment strategies and differentiated private market opportunities.
The platform will build a diversified portfolio across next-generation and current-generation engine types, leasing to airlines, maintenance, repair and overhaul providers and other operators. It will invest through direct purchases from manufacturers, sale-and-leaseback transactions with airlines, secondary acquisitions and finance leases. AIP Capital will lead sourcing, asset management and trading of the portfolio, drawing on its unique in-house technical, legal and servicing capabilities and deep relationships across the aviation supply chain.
Aircraft engines represent an attractive diversification opportunity, supported by long-term structural demand and investment characteristics that can differ from broader macroeconomic cycles. Extended maintenance turnaround times paired with growing backlogs for new aircraft and sustained growth in passenger demand have fostered strong demand for spare engines. The GCC, home to some of the world's fastest-growing airlines and aviation hubs, is an important driver of this demand.
Rohit Dhote, Partner and Co-Head of Credit Opportunities at Bridgepoint, said: "Engines are one of the most attractive asset-based opportunities right now, providing a cash-generative asset with a genuinely differentiated return driver. That is a valuable diversifier for our LPs. We're delighted to be building this with GFH, who share our conviction in asset-backed strategies and bring deep roots in the Middle East, one of the most important regions for aviation, as well as with AIP Capital, whose sector expertise and direct access to manufacturers give the platform an origination edge that few investors can match."
Mr Hammad Younas, CEO of GFH Equities, said: “Our partnership with Bridgepoint and AIP Capital reflects GFH’s established strategy of aligning with world-class managers to deliver differentiated and defensive asset-backed opportunities to our clients, while marking our entry into the aviation sector. Aircraft engines represent a compelling asset class, combining resilient, contracted cash flows with robust long-term structural demand. We look forward to working alongside our partners to scale the platform and provide investors across the region with access to this growing segment of the global aviation market.”
Marc Younan, Managing Director and Head of Middle East Investor Relations at Bridgepoint, added: "The Middle East is one of the fastest-growing sources of capital for private markets and a priority region for Bridgepoint. We are delighted to welcome GFH, one of the Gulf's most established financial institutions, as a strategic partner to the venture. GFH’s strong investment platform and extensive relationships across the GCC will be highly complementary as we continue to scale the strategy and deepen our partnerships across the region.”
Mathew Adamo, Managing Partner at AIP Capital, said: “We are pleased to welcome GFH alongside our existing partners and are proud to continue expanding the platform with other respected institutions. We look forward to creating long-term value together and further scaling the platform in the years ahead.”