From AINonline
EAST ALTON, Ill. – Three months after announcing a major expansion at three of its four primary maintenance locations, West Star Aviation has been acquired by Houston-based private equity firm The Sterling Group. Financial terms of the deal between West Star’s parent, Norwest Equity Partners, and Sterling were not disclosed.
The closing of the West Star deal also comes on the heels of Sterling selling its Lynx FBO chain to KKR-backed Atlantic Aviation. West Star operates four MRO facilities in East Alton, Illinois; Grand Junction, Colorado; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Perryville, Missouri. In December, the MRO provider announced plans to add more than a quarter-million square feet of space between East Alton, Grand Junction, and Chattanooga. The West Star footprint also includes 15 mobile repair bases and satellite MROs.
Sterling partner Greg Elliott has 20 years of experience in business aviation, having served as chairman or board member of Lynx and former FBO chains Encore, Trajen, and Landmark Aviation. “We believe that our experience coupled with West Star’s industry-leading customer service capabilities will make us a powerful combination,” he said. “We are eager to help accelerate their growth plans.”
West Star CEO Jim Rankin added that Sterling brings an employee-focused approach to its business partnerships and that its general aviation expertise makes the firm a “perfect fit for West Star.” Sterling has more than $5.7 billion of assets under management.