Landmark Aviation, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, has acquired Ross Aviation, an operator of fixed based operations located throughout the United States and a portfolio company of Centre Partners since January 2005.
A fixed-base operator (FBO) is a commercial business granted the right by an airport to operate on the airport and provide aeronautical services such as fueling, hangaring, tie-down and parking, aircraft rental, aircraft maintenance, and flight instruction.
The acquisition of Ross has increased the size of Landmark’s FBO network from 57 to 75 locations globally.
Ross Aviation operates 18 fixed base operations in major cities and resort destinations within the US, including Denver (BJC), Santa Fe (SAF), Miami (OPF), and six locations in Hawaii. The company is headquartered in Denver (www.rossfbo.com).
“We are very excited to welcome these 18 locations into our network,” said Landmark’s President and CEO Dan Bucaro. “They are geographically a good fit with their strength in the west and Hawaii. We also look forward to building strong relationships with the various airport authorities and being active in each of those communities.”
Landmark Aviation operates a network of 57 fixed base operations located throughout the US, and in Canada and Western Europe. The company offers a range of services, including FBO, MRO, charter and management. Landmark Aviation is headquartered in Houston (www.landmarkaviation.com).
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) invests in buyouts, growth capital, real estate and leveraged finance in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The firm employs approximately 1,600 people in 38 offices across six continents and is based in Washington, DC (www.carlyle.com).
Centre Partners invests from $20 million to $60 million in North American based middle market companies that have $50 million to $500 million in revenue and $10 million to $60 million in EBITDA. Sectors of interest include healthcare; industrial products and services; financial services; energy; media; restaurants; retail; and aviation services. The firm is currently investing through its fifth fund with $650 million of committed capital. Centre Partners was founded in 1986 and has offices in New York and Los Angeles (www.centrepartners.com).
2014 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 8-6-14
