M&A Deal Summary

The Sterling Group Acquires West Star Aviation

On March 2, 2022, private equity firm The Sterling Group acquired aerospace company West Star Aviation from Norwest Equity Partners, Antares Capital and NMP Capital

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is The Sterling Group’s 2nd transaction in the Aerospace sector.
  • This is The Sterling Group’s 43rd transaction in the United States.
  • This is The Sterling Group’s 2nd transaction in Illinois.

M&A Deal Summary

Date 2022-03-02
Target West Star Aviation
Sector Aerospace
Buyer(s) The Sterling Group
Sellers(s) Norwest Equity Partners
Antares Capital
NMP Capital
Deal Type Secondary Buyout
Advisor(s) Harris Williams & Co. (Financial)

Target

West Star Aviation

East Alton, Illinois, United States
West Star Aviation is a provider of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (“MRO”) and related support services to the business aviation industry. All aspects of aviation maintenance and total product rebuild from propjet to large jet products. West Star Aviation was founded in 1952 and is based in East Alton, Illinois.

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Buyer(S) 1

Buyer

The Sterling Group

Houston, Texas, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1982
PE ASSETS 2.1B USD
Size Large
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

The Sterling Group is a private equity firm focused on acquiring middle-market businesses within basic manufacturing, industrial services, and distribution. Sterling looks for companies valued from $100 to $750 million with positive cash-flow, strong market positions, and potential to grow. Sterling avoids investments in financial services, real estate, healthcare, or information technology companies. The Sterling Group was formed in 1982 and is based in Houston, Texas.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 46 of 49
Sector (Aerospace) 2 of 2
Type (Secondary Buyout) 13 of 14
State (Illinois) 2 of 2
Country (United States) 43 of 46
Year (2022) 1 of 2
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2021-12-03 Time Manufacturing

Waco, Texas, United States

Time Manufacturing is a global manufacturer of bucket trucks, digger derricks, cable placers, truck bodies, buckets, and other specialty equipment for the electric utility, telecommunications infrastructure, bridge inspection, tree care, and other fleet-supported industries. Selling via the Versalift, BrandFX, Aspen Aerials, Ruthmann, Steiger, Ecoline and Bluelift brands. Time Manufacturing was founded in 1965 and is based in Waco, Texas.

Sell -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2022-07-07 Ergotron

St. Paul, Minnesota, United States

Ergotron is a global company focused on improving how people work, learn, play and care for others. Ergotron was founded in 1982 and is based in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Buy -

Seller(S) 3

SELLER

Norwest Equity Partners

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1961
PE ASSETS 7.0B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Norwest Equity Partners (NEP) is a private equity firm focused on investing in growing and profitable middle-market companies. NEP targets investments in businesses valued between $50 and $500 million, typically investing $50 to $250 million of capital per investment. Funds are typically used to fund management buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth financing. Sectors of interest include manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, technology/business services, and consumer products/services. NEP is affiliated with Norwest Mezzanine Partners, an investment partnership focused on providing junior capital to middle-market companies. Norwest Equity Partners is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 48 of 54
Sector (Aerospace) 1 of 1
Type (Secondary Buyout) 22 of 24
State (Illinois) 5 of 5
Country (United States) 47 of 52
Year (2022) 2 of 4
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2022-01-01 GoHealth

Chicago, Illinois, United States

GoHealth is a health insurance marketplace whose mission is to improve access to healthcare in America. The Company's technology platform leverages modern machine-learning algorithms powered by nearly two decades of insurance behavioral data to reimagine the optimal process for helping individuals find the best health insurance plan for their specific needs. GoHealth was founded in 2001 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Sell -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2022-07-01 Twitchell

Dothan, Alabama, United States

Twitchell is a manufacturer of fabrics and yarns for outdoor furniture. Twitchell produces custom specialty technical fibers, fabrics and engineered films to meet exacting performance and design requirements that are inputs in a diverse set of end products. Twitchell was founded in 1922 and is based in Dothan, Alabama.

Buy -
SELLER

Antares Capital

Miami, Florida, United States

Investor Investor


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1993
Size Small
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Antares Capital is a private investment group that targets growth capital financings as well as management buyout opportunities. The Firm focuses on investments based in the Southeast US and Texas. Prospective companies generally have proven business models, modest capital requirements for growth, and operate in large and growing markets. The Firm looks to commit $500k to $5 million per investment. Antares will not invest in real estate, mineral exploration, distributors, franchisees, or project financings. Antares was founded in 1993 and is based in Miami, Florida.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 40 of 44
Sector (Aerospace) 1 of 1
Type (Secondary Buyout) 13 of 13
State (Illinois) 2 of 3
Country (United States) 39 of 43
Year (2022) 1 of 3
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2021-11-23 Race Winning Brands

Mentor, Ohio, United States

Race Winning Brands is a designer, manufacturer, and distributor of branded automotive aftermarket and powersports aftermarket products for enthusiast and racing consumers. RWB consists of a 12-brand portfolio of high-performance aftermarket product categories, with applications across a diverse group of automotive and powersports vehicle segments. According to industry research, the enthusiast powersport segment has seen annualized growth of 10-15 percent over the last 18 months with forecasted growth of six to eight percent over the next 12 months. Racing Winning Brands is based in Mentor, Ohio.

Sell -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2022-03-31 OMEGA Environmental Technologies

Irving, Texas, United States

OMEGA Environmental Technologies is an aftermarket distributor of climate control products and other mission-critical components across the light and heavy-duty automotive sectors. OMEGA Environmental Technologies was founded in 1989 and is based in Irving, Texas.

Buy -
SELLER

NMP Capital

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor


Category Mezzanine Finance Firm
Founded 2000
PE ASSETS 4.0B USD
Size Large
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

NMP Capital is an independent investment firm focused on providing junior capital to a variety of lower middle-market companies in partnership with financial sponsors. NMP looks to commit $20 to $75 million in profitable companies with at least $10 million of EBITDA. NMP will consider opportunities in a wide range of industries including distribution, manufacturing, healthcare, and consumer. NMP Capital was formed in 2000 and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 50 of 53
Sector (Aerospace) 2 of 2
Type (Secondary Buyout) 21 of 21
State (Illinois) 5 of 5
Country (United States) 48 of 51
Year (2022) 1 of 2
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2021-11-17 Monroe Truck Equipment

Monroe, Wisconsin, United States

Monroe Truck Equipment specializes in the design, manufacture, distribution, and installation/upfitting of specialized truck equipment for the municipal and commercial markets. Monroe Truck Equipment was founded in 1986 and is based in Monroe, Wisconsin.

Sell -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2022-06-15 McIntosh Group

New York, New York, United States

McIntosh Group is a developer of high-performance audio equipment controlling McIntosh, Audio Research, Sonus Faber and Wadia brands. McIntosh Group is based in New York, New York.

Buy -