The Sterling Group Acquires West Star Aviation from Norwest Equity Partners

Greenbriar Equity Group Acquires West Star Aviation from The Sterling Group

May 21, 2025

Aerospace & Defense

Funds managed by Greenbriar Equity Group have acquired West Star Aviation, a leading business aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider, from The Sterling Group. Financial terms were not disclosed; Greenbriar said it will leverage its aviation aftermarket experience to accelerate West Star's growth and enhance its service capabilities across the company's national facilities and AOG technician network.

West Star Aviation Acquires Jet East from Gama Aviation

November 6, 2023

Aerospace & Defense

West Star Aviation, a portfolio company of The Sterling Group, has acquired Jet East from Gama Aviation. The deal brings together two business-aviation MRO providers to expand geographic coverage, AOG/mobile capabilities, and heavy- and line-maintenance services (transaction announced in Nov 2023; reported sale price ~US$131 million).

H.I.G. Capital Acquires STS Aviation Group from Greenbriar Equity Group

October 8, 2024

Aerospace & Defense

An affiliate of H.I.G. Capital has completed a strategic equity acquisition of STS Aviation Group from Greenbriar Equity Group. STS’s executive team will remain in place and as significant shareholders while H.I.G. positions the business for global expansion, capability growth, and potential add-on acquisitions in the aviation MRO and parts-distribution market.

GE Aerospace Acquires Northstar Aerospace from Wynnchurch Capital

June 26, 2025

Manufacturing

Wynnchurch Capital has sold Northstar Aerospace, a Bedford Park, Illinois-based manufacturer of flight-critical and non-flight-critical aircraft parts, to GE Aerospace. Northstar produces complex components such as gears, housings, assemblies and shafts for helicopter transmission systems; Vedder Price provided legal counsel to Wynnchurch and Lincoln International and Moelis & Company served as financial advisors.

Platinum Equity Affiliate Acquires Wesco Aircraft and Combines It with Pattonair

January 9, 2020

Aerospace & Defense

An affiliate of Platinum Equity completed the acquisition of Wesco Aircraft Holdings Inc. for approximately $1.9 billion and immediately combined Wesco with Platinum Equity portfolio company Pattonair. The combination creates a roughly $2.4 billion, global aerospace supply-chain and distribution business headquartered in Valencia, California, with operations across 17 countries and more than 4,000 employees to expand scale, product breadth and supply‑chain capabilities.

The Sterling Group and Capitol Meridian Partners Acquire PrimeFlight Aviation Services from Carlyle

March 6, 2023

Transportation

The Sterling Group and Capitol Meridian Partners have agreed to acquire PrimeFlight Aviation Services from funds managed by Carlyle in a 50/50 partnership; financial terms were not disclosed and the deal is expected to close by Q3 2023. Headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, PrimeFlight operates roughly 235 stations globally and employs about 12,000 people, providing ground handling, fueling, deicing, GSE maintenance and other airport services to airlines, airports and cargo operators.