Top 5 Mergers And Acquisitions 2016

Florida-based aftermarket specialist PEMCO, an airframe and component MRO which also boasts a substantial passenger-to-freighter (PTF) conversion program, was acquired in December 2016 by Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services (AMES), a subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group. “PEMCO was chosen for acquisition in order to broaden and strengthen AMES' existing portfolio of aircraft maintenance products and services, while expanding access to maintenance service for all customers of ATSG's fleet,” said Paul Cunningham, ATSG spokesperson.

Estonia’s Magnetic MRO integrated MAC Interiors into its business in 2016 with the intention of making the UK-based company into a one-stop-shop for aircraft interiors solutions. “The primary goal of the MAC buyout was to fill the gap of older aircraft full refurbishment programs, an area in which interiors always were problematic but equally very important for our clients as this was the only capability not covered in house.” says Andrius Norkevičius, COO of engineering services at Magnetic MRO and managing director of MAC Interiors.

Aircraft repair specialists Marana Aerospace Solutions and Ascent Aviation Services confirmed plans to merge and form a new MRO entity for widebody and narrowbody jets in North America late last year. The combined company will offer maintenance, flight line, storage and reclamation services out of two Arizona-based facilities. Marana is based at Tucson International Airport while Ascent is headquartered around 35 miles away in Tucson.

China’s HNA Group bought an 80% stake in Swiss MRO SR Technics from Mubalada in July 2016. Through its HNA Aviation division, the conglomerate will take a foothold in the European MRO market with its controlling stake in SR Technics, which holds capabilities including line, base and engine maintenance. Mubadala, Abu Dhabi’s investment and development company which has held its majority stake in SR Technics for more than six years, will retain a 20 per cent share in the company.

European software firm IFS increased its MRO footprint in North America by acquiring Canadian maintenance software specialist Mxi Technologies. Ottawa-headquartered Mxi provides maintenance management solutions for the commercial and defense aviation segments through its Maintenex software offering. “The primary driver is to combine the strengths of both companies to better serve and grow our position within the global aviation and defense market,” said Graeme Grose, IFS’s ‎director, aerospace and defense center of excellence. “As IFS Applications and the Maintenix product suites are attractive to specific customers in the market, we will continue to invest in and develop both product lines.”