Wynnchurch Capital Exits Northstar Aerospace

ROSEMONT, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wynnchurch Capital, L.P. (“Wynnchurch”), a leading middle market private equity firm, is pleased to announce the sale of Northstar Aerospace (“Northstar” or the “Company”) to GE Aerospace.

Headquartered in Bedford Park, Illinois, Northstar is a manufacturer of flight-critical and non-flight-critical parts for military and commercial aircraft applications. The Company provides a broad base of complex and highly engineered products, including gears, housings, assemblies, and shafts for helicopter transmission systems.

Frank Hayes, Managing Partner at Wynnchurch, stated, “Northstar presented a compelling opportunity to acquire a niche aerospace and defense manufacturer at an attractive valuation through a bankruptcy process. Despite the complexities involved, the Company distinguished itself with its strong market position, specialized equipment and processes, and long-standing customer relationships.”

Greg Gleason, Managing Partner at Wynnchurch, stated, “We are thankful to the Northstar team for all their hard work over the years. During our partnership, we upgraded systems and processes, drove continuous improvement throughout the Company’s operations, and strengthened commercial agreements. This led to meaningful value creation for customers, employees, and shareholders.”

Scott Burdick, the CEO of Northstar, said, “Wynnchurch has been an excellent partner. We appreciate their significant support and resources which have helped improve all aspects of the business. We look forward to the next chapter of growth with GE Aerospace.”

Vedder Price provided legal advice to Wynnchurch in connection with the transaction, and Lincoln International and Moelis & Company served as financial advisors.

About Northstar:
Headquartered in Bedford Park, Illinois, Northstar is a manufacturer of flight-critical and non-flight-critical parts for military and commercial aircraft applications. The Company provides a broad base of complex and highly engineered products, including gears, housings, assemblies, and shafts for helicopter transmission systems. Northstar has strong, long-term relationships with key OEMs in the aerospace and defense industry.

About Wynnchurch Capital:
Wynnchurch Capital, L.P., headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, with an affiliate in Canada, was founded in 1999 and is a leading middle-market private equity investment firm. Wynnchurch’s strategy is to partner with middle market companies in the United States and Canada that possess the potential for substantial growth and profit improvement. Wynnchurch manages a number of private equity funds with $8.6 billion of regulatory assets under management and specializes in recapitalizations, growth capital, management buyouts, corporate carve-outs, and restructurings. Recently, Wynnchurch acquired Astro Shapes, a leading manufacturer of custom aluminum extrusions. Other recent investments include: Principal Industries, a leading provider of LED components and engineered assemblies; ORS Nasco, North America’s largest pure wholesaler of industrial MRO supplies; and Hydraulic Technologies, a market leader in high-pressure hydraulic tools. For more information, please visit: http://www.wynnchurch.com or follow us on LinkedIn.