AIM Aviation flies high thanks to Catalyst

Catalyst has advised on the MBO of AIM Aviation, a leading global provider of cabin design and build services to the aircraft industry.

AIM, a company which started trading in the 1920's, has a diverse customer base and enjoys longstanding relationships with a wide range of airlines, airframe OEMs and military authorities.

The company, based in Bournemouth, comprises three individual trading businesses – Jecco, Henshalls and Composites. Jecco is a market leading provider of premium aircraft interiors for a number of the faster-growing airlines such as Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, Etihad and Qatar. Its products range from premium bar, lounge and cabin areas to mood lighting systems.

Henshalls produces galley systems and has, over recent years, established leading positions on the A320, A330 and B737 platforms alongside key customers such as China Southern, China Eastern, Shenzen and EasyJet.

The third business in the group, AIM Composites, provides composite materials and products to a wide range of customers in aerospace and related industries including Jecco and Henshalls.

The management buy-out, featuring a significant investment by private equity firm LDC via their Birmingham office, is being led by group chief executive Mark Edwards, alongside Peter Forbes, group commercial director and managing director of Jecco, Keith Robinson, managing director of Henshalls and Paul Seaford, managing director of Composites.

Catalyst was engaged by LDC in a debt advisory role, assisting them to deliver banking support for the deal from a club of lenders. Through their focus on this area of the deal Catalyst were able to manage the banking process closely to meet the tight deadline imposed.