Arlington backs MB Aerospace MBO

Arlington has taken a majority stake in MB Aerospace following the investment, alongside the management, which reinvested for a minority stake. The deal also earmarked funds for a string of planned acquisitions in the US.

As part of the buyout, MB Aerospace chief executive Craig Gallagher will be joined by new chief financial officer Gregor Goodwin. Gallagher was part of the original buyout of the company by LDC from engineering group Motherwell Bridge in 2007.

Previous funding
LDC bought MB Aerospace in a management buyout from generalist engineering firm Motherwell Bridge in April 2007. Royal Bank of Scotland provided senior debt to support the transaction. The newco regrouped MB Aerospace and MB Faber, two Motherwell Bridge subsidiaries.

The GP supported the company's international expansion by increasing its production capabilities and establishing a presence in the US through strategic acquisitions. The company worked on creating synergies between its US and UK operations and reshaped its business from a diverse group of engineering operations to an aerospace components business with lines of activity into all key aero-engine OEMs.

It total, MB Aerospace led six deals in the holding period, including divestments of its non-core assets. Most recent acquisitions were Gentz Aero of Detroit and Thomson Aero of Somerset. The company's turnover grew from $28m in 2008 to $81m in 2012.

Company
MB Aerospace manufactures and repairs aero-engine components while also providing supply chain integration services for its customers. The firm's key customers include Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, General Electric, Boeing, United Technologies, GKN, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Volvo Aerospace.

People
Peter Manos is managing partner at Arlington. John Garner is head of LDC in Yorkshire and the north-east. 

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