Transactions
January 3 2023
KippsDeSanto & Co. Advises Blackhawk Aerospace on its sale to New State Aviation Holdings, a portfolio company of New State Capital Partners
KippsDeSanto & Co. is pleased to announce the sale of its client, Blackhawk Aerospace (“Blackhawk” or the “Company”) to New State Capital Partner’s general aviation-focused platform, New State Aviation Holdings (“NS Aviation”). Blackhawk is comprised of Blackhawk Modifications, Inc. (“BMI”), Blackhawk Aerospace Solutions, LLC (“BAS”), and Blackhawk Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (“BAT”). Blackhawk joins NS Aviation’s anchor aviation investment AVEX, which was acquired in December 2021. Both companies will continue to operate under their existing brands while broadening NS Aviation’s offerings through collaboration.
Headquartered in Waco, TX, with other locations in Columbia, MO and Huntsville, AL, Blackhawk is a leading provider of aircraft performance upgrades, primarily for the general aviation and government turboprop markets with a focus on engine and avionic upgrades. Blackhawk’s aircraft upgrades significantly improve aircraft performance by increasing climb, cruise, fuel efficiency, payload capacity, safety, and mission capability in special operations such as skydiving, humanitarian, and surveillance. Since its founding in 1999 as BMI, Blackhawk strategically added divisions for government support, maintenance, avionics, composites, and aircraft sales. The composites business is not included in this transaction and will continue independently operating under a new brand and name.
Since inception, Blackhawk has developed and obtained a wide range of Federal Aviation Administration Supplemental Type Certificates (“STCs”) and various corresponding foreign validations for leading turboprop platforms. Specifically, the Company has significant experience working with all King Airs as well as other aircraft that use the world’s most popular engine in its class, the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A. Additionally, the Company leverages its avionic STCs to upgrade a variety of popular systems, to include avionics from Collins Aerospace, Garmin, and Honeywell. Blackhawk Aerospace has served customers across multiple platforms and the “Blackhawk” brand is recognized throughout the industry as the go-to provider for aircraft engine and avionic upgrades.
AVEX is an authorized distributor and recommended service center of Daher TBM turboprops and has delivered more than 1,000 TBM aircraft currently in service. AVEX also manages a robust maintenance and aftermarket services business, providing a one-stop solution and a high level of customer service to TBM owners across the country. AVEX’s extensive experience and knowledge in the aircraft aftermarket services market, coupled with the strength of Blackhawk’s brand, market reputation, and upgrade offerings, is expected to help accelerate NS Aviation’s growth.
With Blackhawk as part of its portfolio, NS Aviation will now offer a broader suite of services and solutions to the light turbine market across a wider variety of platforms.
We believe this transaction demonstrates several key trends in the Aerospace & Defense M&A environment:
• Emphasis on highly differentiated offerings with a focus on delivering proprietary performance-enhancing solutions for aircraft engine and avionic upgrades
• Strong outlook and growth prospects within the Business Jet and General Aviation markets
• Continued private equity interest in Aerospace & Defense targets that add immediate scale and unique access to strategic partnerships within the industry
LEAD INVESTMENT BANKERS
Michael J. Misantone
Michael Potolicchio
KippsDeSanto & Co. is pleased to announce the sale of its client, Blackhawk Aerospace (“Blackhawk” or the “Company”) to New State Capital Partner’s general aviation-focused platform, New State Aviation Holdings (“NS Aviation”). Blackhawk is comprised of Blackhawk Modifications, Inc. (“BMI”), Blackhawk Aerospace Solutions, LLC (“BAS”), and Blackhawk Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (“BAT”). Blackhawk joins NS Aviation’s anchor aviation investment AVEX, which was acquired in December 2021. Both companies will continue to operate under their existing brands while broadening NS Aviation’s offerings through collaboration.
Headquartered in Waco, TX, with other locations in Columbia, MO and Huntsville, AL, Blackhawk is a leading provider of aircraft performance upgrades, primarily for the general aviation and government turboprop markets with a focus on engine and avionic upgrades. Blackhawk’s aircraft upgrades significantly improve aircraft performance by increasing climb, cruise, fuel efficiency, payload capacity, safety, and mission capability in special operations such as skydiving, humanitarian, and surveillance. Since its founding in 1999 as BMI, Blackhawk strategically added divisions for government support, maintenance, avionics, composites, and aircraft sales. The composites business is not included in this transaction and will continue independently operating under a new brand and name.
Since inception, Blackhawk has developed and obtained a wide range of Federal Aviation Administration Supplemental Type Certificates (“STCs”) and various corresponding foreign validations for leading turboprop platforms. Specifically, the Company has significant experience working with all King Airs as well as other aircraft that use the world’s most popular engine in its class, the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A. Additionally, the Company leverages its avionic STCs to upgrade a variety of popular systems, to include avionics from Collins Aerospace, Garmin, and Honeywell. Blackhawk Aerospace has served customers across multiple platforms and the “Blackhawk” brand is recognized throughout the industry as the go-to provider for aircraft engine and avionic upgrades.
AVEX is an authorized distributor and recommended service center of Daher TBM turboprops and has delivered more than 1,000 TBM aircraft currently in service. AVEX also manages a robust maintenance and aftermarket services business, providing a one-stop solution and a high level of customer service to TBM owners across the country. AVEX’s extensive experience and knowledge in the aircraft aftermarket services market, coupled with the strength of Blackhawk’s brand, market reputation, and upgrade offerings, is expected to help accelerate NS Aviation’s growth.
With Blackhawk as part of its portfolio, NS Aviation will now offer a broader suite of services and solutions to the light turbine market across a wider variety of platforms.
We believe this transaction demonstrates several key trends in the Aerospace & Defense M&A environment:
• Emphasis on highly differentiated offerings with a focus on delivering proprietary performance-enhancing solutions for aircraft engine and avionic upgrades
• Strong outlook and growth prospects within the Business Jet and General Aviation markets
• Continued private equity interest in Aerospace & Defense targets that add immediate scale and unique access to strategic partnerships within the industry
LEAD INVESTMENT BANKERS
Michael J. Misantone
Michael Potolicchio
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