Hawthorne Global Aviation Services Acquires ExcelAire LLC, a New York-based FBO, Aircraft Charter & Management Company

01/19/2012

Charleston, South Carolina, January 19, 2012 - Hawthorne Global Aviation Services today announced the acquisition of ExcelAire, LLC, a Fixed Based Operator (FBO), aircraft charter and management company based at MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, New York. The deal closes today.

ExcelAire is a premier provider of general aviation services at MacArthur Airport and has a strong market share of fuel uplift, 20 large cabin aircraft under management through its Part 135 Charter Certificate, and several service center designations through its Part 145 Repair Station License. Hawthorne is a general aviation services company which was founded in 1932 and is headquartered in Charleston, SC.  Through its 80 year history it has been involved in all aspects of the aviation industry.

Steven Levesque, President & CEO of Hawthorne, said, “We are delighted to be teaming up with ExcelAire as we focus on building our fixed based operations network. This acquisition highlights our continued FBO focus with expansion into aircraft charter, management and maintenance since we teamed up with Moelis Capital Partners.”

Moelis Capital Partners and Hawthorne Corporation formed Hawthorne Global Aviation Services in November of 2011 and Moelis Capital Partners, alongside its equity investment, provides the company with strategic advice.

Kurt Larsen, a Managing Partner at MCP, said, “This is an excellent first deal for Hawthorne’s current platform that will provide a firm foundation from which we build a network of FBOs across North America. This is the first of many such acquisitions.”

 The current executive management of ExcelAire will continue in their leadership roles at the facility.  Bob Sherry, CEO of ExcelAire, said, “We are pleased to be associated with a group such as Hawthorne that is so highly regarded in the general aviation industry.”  David Rimmer, President of ExcelAire, added, “The Hawthorne team brings significant experience and deep resources to our operation and we look forward to delivering an even greater service experience to our customers.”

 -ends-

 For further information, please contact:

Steven Levesque, Hawthorne, t 843 818 1407, slevesque@hawthorne.aero

Andrea Hurst, Moelis Capital Partners, t. 212 883 3666, andrea.hurst@moelis.com

 

ABOUT HAWTHORNE GLOBAL AVIATION SERVICES

Hawthorne Global Aviation Services is a premier provider of general aviation services with a rich history in the industry dating back to 1932.  For more information, please visit. www.hawthorne.aero.  

 

ABOUT MOELIS CAPITAL PARTNERS

Moelis Capital Partners is a middle market private equity firm founded in 2007 in connection with the formation of Moelis & Company, a global independent investment bank.  Moelis Capital Partners manages $700 million of committed private equity capital and specializes in traditional private equity investments in the middle market.  For more information, please visit www.moeliscapital.com.