ATL Partners
ATL Partners is a New York-based private equity firm founded in 2014 that makes control investments in commercial aerospace, national security, and transportation & logistics companies across its series of sector-focused funds.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ATL Partners does
ATL Partners (legal entity: ATL Associates LLC) is a New York-based, sector-focused private equity firm founded in 2014 that makes control investments across three verticals: commercial aerospace, national security, and transportation & logistics. The firm manages a series of funds (ATL Fund II closed at $575 million in April 2019; ATL Fund III launched in 2026) and has deployed $2.0 billion+ of invested capital alongside $1 billion+ of LP co-investment, executing 8 platform investments and 42 add-on acquisitions. Its revenue model follows the standard PE construct: management fees (typically 1.5-2% on committed capital) plus performance-based carried interest on exits, with $2.2 billion+ of gross capital returned to investors to date.
The firm's portfolio spans aircraft leasing (SKY Leasing), freight forwarding and logistics (Pilot Freight Services, Arrive Logistics, Global Critical Logistics/Rock-It Cargo), aerospace MRO (Aero Accessories), aerospace surface finishing (Valence Surface Technologies), specialty vehicles (SkyMark, Rampmaster), aerospace components (Noranco), and defense/space electronics (Trident Solutions, formerly LightRidge Solutions). Notable exits include the $1.7 billion sale of Pilot Freight Services (2022), the $1 billion+ sale of GCL to Providence Equity Partners (2025), and the $275 million sale of Geost to Rocket Lab (2025).
ATL's go-to-market is relationship-driven, leveraging an executive board of operating leaders, deep co-investment partnerships with PSP Investments and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation, and a team of 11 investment professionals plus operating executives. Recent additions such as former C.H. Robinson CEO Bob Biesterfeld reflect a strategy of layering senior operating talent onto the investment team to support portfolio company value creation. The firm has no proprietary technology products and no disclosed AI capabilities; its moat rests on sector specialization, operating network, and disciplined buy-and-build execution.
ATL Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ATL Partners
- Legal name
- ATL Associates LLC
- Website
- http://www.atlpartners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ATL Partners is a New York-based private equity firm founded in 2014 that makes control investments in commercial aerospace, national security, and transportation & logistics companies across its series of sector-focused funds.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ATL Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity / Investment Management
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (523150)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Strategic Real Assets & Infrastructure Venture Investing (FSANAHAN)
Keywords
Where ATL Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ATL Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Management Fees: Private equity firms typically charge management fees on committed capital under management, typically 1.5-2% annually.
- Carried Interest: Performance-based carried interest typically 20% of profits above a hurdle rate, aligning GP and LP interests.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
ATL Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ATL Partners is a sector-focused private equity firm that invests in middle-market companies within the aerospace, national security, transportation, and logistics industries. The firm manages investment funds on behalf of limited partners (institutional investors) and works with management teams to grow portfolio companies through operational support and capital deployment.
Product overview
ATL Partners is a sector-focused private equity firm, not a technology product company. It does not offer a unified product platform but rather manages investment funds (ATL Fund II, ATL Fund III) that make control investments in commercial aerospace, national security, and transportation & logistics companies. The firm's portfolio consists of portfolio companies operating across multiple sectors: Trident Solutions (space and defense electronics with AS9100 certification), Aero Accessories (aerospace MRO services), SkyMark/Rampmaster (aviation refueling and ground support equipment), Global Critical Logistics (live events logistics), Arrive Logistics (technology-enabled freight brokerage), Valence Surface Technologies (aerospace surface finishing), Pilot Freight Services (freight forwarding and logistics), SKY Leasing (aircraft leasing), and Noranco (aerospace components).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ATL Fund I: First fund of ATL Partners
- ATL Fund II
- ATL Fund III
Products and services
- Private Equity Investment Funds
Quantifiable outcome
- $2.2bn+ gross capital returned to investors as of Q4 2025
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ATL Partners
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ATL Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
ATL Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Bob BiesterfeldminorTransportation and logistics executive Bob Biesterfeld joined ATL Partners as a Senior Operating Executive in February 2026. With more than 25 years of leadership experience including serving as CEO of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, he works with ATL's investment professionals and portfolio company management teams to support strategic and operational initiatives.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ATL Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Stonepeak Partners: Large infrastructure-focused alternative asset manager with significant transportation & logistics exposure (ports, freight, logistics assets). Comparable to ATL's T&L thesis though at much larger scale and infrastructure orientation.
- Ardian: Global private investment house with significant aerospace, defense, and transportation investing activity. Comparable breadth of LP relationships and similar sector diversification across aerospace and industrial end markets.
- Brookfield Asset Management: Global alternative asset manager with substantial aerospace, transportation, and infrastructure platforms. Relevant as a much larger incumbent in overlapping end markets including aviation leasing and logistics.
Direct peers
- Sterling Group: Operationally-focused middle-market PE firm with significant aerospace, industrial, and transportation exposure. Similar in size, sector focus, and use of operating executive networks to drive platform value.
- Wynnchurch Capital: Middle-market PE firm with sector depth in industrial, aerospace, defense, and transportation/logistics. Overlapping investment thesis with ATL in complex carve-outs and operationally intensive platforms.
- Ridgemont Equity Partners: Middle-market buyout firm with sector focus across industrial, aerospace & defense, and business services. Comparable fund size, control-buyout orientation, and use of operating partners for value creation.
- AE Industrial Partners: Sector-focused PE firm exclusively dedicated to aerospace, defense, and industrial services. Closest comparable to ATL in dedicated aerospace/national security focus, fund size, and platform-building strategy.
- American Industrial Partners: Sector-focused private equity firm investing in industrial, aerospace, and transportation businesses. Comparable to ATL in its specialization, control-buyout strategy, and emphasis on operational value creation through a deep operating bench.
- Sky Island Capital: Lower-middle-market PE firm focused on aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors. Direct sector overlap with ATL, and notably the prior owner of SkyMark Companies (acquired by ATL in January 2026), making it a recent counterparty.
Emerging players
- Plenary Group: Infrastructure-focused investor with transportation and aviation-adjacent exposure. Less directly overlapping but comparable in thematic interest in transportation infrastructure and real asset investing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ATL Partners social profiles
Digital presenceATL Partners compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
ATL Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ATL Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
ATL Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ATL Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A6 records
Investments5 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ATL Partners
What does ATL Partners do?
ATL Partners is a sector-focused private equity firm that invests in middle-market companies within the aerospace, national security, transportation, and logistics industries. The firm manages investment funds on behalf of limited partners (institutional investors) and works with management teams to grow portfolio companies through operational support and capital deployment.
Is ATL Partners a public or private company?
ATL Partners is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was ATL Partners founded?
ATL Partners was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ATL Partners based?
ATL Partners is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does ATL Partners make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are carried Interest.
Who are ATL Partners's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Stonepeak Partners, Ardian and Brookfield Asset Management. Direct peers are Sterling Group, Wynnchurch Capital, Ridgemont Equity Partners, AE Industrial Partners, American Industrial Partners and Sky Island Capital. Plenary Group is listed as an emerging player.
Does ATL Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for ATL Partners.
What industry is ATL Partners in?
ATL Partners's product category is Private Equity / Investment Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAHAN, Corporate Strategic Real Assets & Infrastructure Venture Investing. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.