Recent News and Announcements from Centre Partners
Five Locations in the Hawaiian Islands – Honolulu, Kahului, Lihue, Kona and Hilo
Denver, Colorado, April 11, 2008 – Ross Aviation today confirmed that it has acquired the majority ownership interest in the Bradley Pacific Aviation portfolio of five FBOs in the Hawaiian Islands. This acquisition represents the eighth major FBO investment for Ross Aviation and increases its portfolio to 12 operations. The FBOs, located at Honolulu International Airport, Kahului International Airport, Lihue Airport, Keahole-Kona International Airport and Hilo International Airport will continue to operate under the “Bradley Pacific Aviation” banner. The Bradley Pacific FBOs now join Denver AirCenter, Scottsdale AirCenter, Santa Fe AirCenter, Capital Aviation, Corporate Aircraft, Great Circle Flight Services and Miami Executive Aviation as strategic locations in the growing Ross Aviation network.
Ross Aviation president and CEO, Jeff Ross, commented that, “We are thrilled to add the Bradley Pacific Aviation operations to our network, which now stretches over most of the United States – from Hawaii to Florida and from California to Alaska. The Bradley Pacific FBOs provide extensive coverage and add a leading presence in one of the world’s premier resort marketplaces.”
In addition to providing exceptional FBO services to private and corporate aviation operators, Bradley Pacific is also a major commercial into plane fuel supplier in the Hawaiian Islands. Bradley Pacific was founded by Bob Yosaitis and Tom Anusewicz in 1998. Based on the premise of excellent service and safety, Bradley Pacific grew to become the leading FBO operator in the state. Mr. Yosaitis continues to hold an equity interest in Bradley Pacific, and he and Mr. Anusewicz will continue to serve in key capacities with the company. Industry favorites Mi Kosasa and Suzanne Olaso will also continue in their leadership roles in the company’s marketing and corporate aviation services departments.
Ross Aviation was established in 2004 through a partnership between Centre Partners Management, LLC and industry veterans Jeff Ross and Greg Ross. Bruce Pollack, Managing Partner of Centre Partners, said, “We expect the Hawaiian Islands to continue to flourish as a year-round resort destination and we are pleased to have secured the opportunity to expand the Ross Aviation platform into this market.” Pollack added that Bradley Pacific has secured a new long term lease at Kona on which it will develop a 40,000 square foot hangar and FBO facility.
Centre Partners, with offices in New York and Los Angeles, is a private equity investment firm focused exclusively on supporting strong middle market companies. Founded in 1986, Centre Partners and its affiliates have invested over $3 billion of equity capital in more than 90 private equity transactions. Ross Aviation brings together extensive FBO ownership and operating knowledge with the flexibility to structure and quickly close a variety of transaction models.
For more information, please visit www.rossfbo.com or www.centrepartners.com or contact us at:
Contacts: Jeff Ross