Equity firm acquires aircraft component companies

Graham Partners (www.grahampartners.com), a Philadelphia-based private equity firm specializing in buyouts of manufacturing companies, announced its first aerospace investment with the concurrent acquisition of two aircraft component and assembly manufacturers, Atlas Aerospace (www.atlasaerospace.com) and Vitron Manufacturing, Inc. (www.vitron.net). Both companies are value-added manufacturers of new and replacement OEM parts for corporate, regional, commercial and defense aircraft, primarily manufacturing aluminum precision-machined parts, sheet metal fabricated parts and complex assemblies, with a focus on high-end cockpit and structural components for current production, new and retrofit aircraft programs.
Graham Partners plans to oversee its investments in the two companies under one aerospace platform. However, in the near term, operationally, the two companies will continue to be run as separate businesses with plans for a phased integration over the medium term. Atlas and Vitron are both benefiting from a conversion trend in the aerospace sector that is being driven by OEMs and large Tier 1 aerospace suppliers shifting their strategic focus toward aircraft design and assembly, and away from the production of component parts and sub-assemblies.
Bill Ankrom, CEO of Vitron, said, "Vitron is an established leader in this industry, and favorable industry trends should continue to deliver new opportunities for us to expand our business. With our strong customer base and our industry leading lights-out manufacturing capabilities, we are well positioned for continued success."