Mesa, AZ – August 19^th, 2024 – KP Aviation, a leading provider of aviation parts and services, is proud to announce its inclusion in the prestigious 2023 Inc. 5000 list, ranking No. 2271 among America’s fastest-growing private companies. This milestone reflects KP Aviation’s unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction in the aviation industry.

The Inc. 5000 list, published annually by Inc. magazine, is a hallmark of entrepreneurial success, highlighting the most dynamic and successful businesses across the nation. Companies on the 2023 Inc. 5000 list have demonstrated significant revenue growth over a three-year period, underscoring their resilience, leadership, and ability to scale in competitive markets.

“We are honored to be included as one of the fastest-growing companies in the country in the Inc. 5000,” said Linn Shaw, CEO of KP Aviation. “This achievement is a testament to the support of our valued supply chain partners, trust of our customers, and dedication of our team in the relentless pursuit of innovation in the aviation sector. Through our partnership with Bain Capital, our company has accelerated its global expansion and broadened its product and service offerings to meet the evolving needs of our clients.”

Since its founding, KP Aviation has distinguished itself as a key player in the aviation industry, offering a comprehensive range of aircraft components and assets, to commercial airlines, leasing companies, and maintenance organizations worldwide. The company’s customer-centric approach, combined with its deep industry expertise, has fueled its rapid expansion and solidified its reputation as a trusted partner in the aftermarket sector.

As KP Aviation celebrates this remarkable achievement, the company looks forward to further growth and success in the coming years, continuing to set new standards of excellence in the aviation industry.

For more information about KP Aviation and its services, please visit kpaviation.net.

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About KP Aviation:

KP Aviation is a leading global supplier of essential aftermarket materials and services, catering to the aviation industry’s evolving needs. With a strong commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, KP Aviation offers a comprehensive range of products and solutions that ensure optimal performance and safety. Headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, the company operates globally, serving a diverse customer base and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers. At KP Aviation, we remain grounded so your assets can soar. For more information, visit www.kpaviation.net.

Media Contacts For KP Aviation:

Sumerae Sisemore

Brand Ambassador

(775) 851-3362

Sumerae.s@kpaviation.net

Mesa, AZ – June 26^th, 2024 – KP Aviation (KPA) is authorized exclusively in North and South America only for sales of the Honeywell displays to Helicopter (AW139) Operators, MRO provides and PBH service providers for upgrades in the Aftermarket only.

Through this partnership, KPA will gain access to Honeywell’s esteemed Marketing and Product Management team, the driving force behind the product roadmap for these displays. This collaboration ensures KPA stays at the forefront of product developments and innovations, providing unparalleled service to its customers.

As part of the distribution agreement, Honeywell is committed to supporting KPA with comprehensive assistance in product promotion and technical support. This commitment underscores Honeywell’s dedication to empowering its distributors with the necessary tools and resources for success.

 “The support from Honeywell’s Marketing and Product Management team, along with their commitment to providing promotional and technical assistance, will enable us to deliver exceptional value to our customers.” said Ben Gifford, Vice President of Global Sales at KP Aviation. “This partnership for the AW139 displays will broaden our product range and strengthen our customer-focused solutions.”

For more information on the Honeywell partnership, please reach out to KP Aviation for further details.

About KP Aviation:

KP Aviation is a leading global supplier of essential aftermarket materials and services, catering to the aviation industry’s evolving needs. With a strong commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, KP Aviation offers a comprehensive range of products and solutions that ensure optimal performance and safety. Headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, the company operates globally, serving a diverse customer base and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers. At KP Aviation, we remain grounded so your assets can soar. For more information, visit www.kpaviation.net.

Media Contacts For KP Aviation:

Mesa, AZ – May 31, 2024 – KP Aviation (KPA) is authorized by Honeywell globally for sales of the ADS-B Transponders to Boeing & Airbus Operators, Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) providers, and PBH service providers for upgrades in the Aftermarket only, with exclusivity in North and South America. This strategic partnership solidifies KPA’s position as the premier distributor for these critical aviation components over the next five years.

Under the terms of the agreement, KPA will serve as the exclusive distributor for Honeywell’s ADS-B Transponders for both retrofit and upgrades within the US fleet and any other customer seeking to purchase these products through Honeywell. All business opportunities will be seamlessly directed to KPA for streamlined procurement processing.

The collaboration between Honeywell and KP Aviation extends beyond distribution logistics by facilitating comprehensive support for product promotion and technical assistance at point of sale (POS). This partnership underscores Honeywell’s commitment to empowering its distributors the tools and resources necessary for success.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Honeywell.” said Vice President of Global Sales, Ben Gifford. “These distribution programs, along with the backing of their OEM expertise, provides KP Aviation the opportunity to grow in line with our market expansion initiatives, including new product line offerings. Honeywell is the right strategic partner for us to achieve our customer-centric solutions by investing in high-demand material for our broad end-user customer base.”

For more information on the Honeywell partnership, please reach out to KP Aviation for further details.

Media Contacts For KP Aviation:

MESA, Ariz., Jan. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — KP Aviation, a leader in the evolving aftermarket aviation industry, is pleased to announce a significant leadership transition that marks the next phase of the company’s evolution. Kim Schulze, the co-founder and current Chief Executive Officer, will be transitioning to a newly created role, paving the way for the leadership of Linn Shaw who has been serving as Chief Financial Officer.

In a joint statement released to KP Aviation’s trusted team, Schulze and Shaw shared their excitement about the future of KP Aviation. Schulze reinforced confidence in Shaw’s capabilities, stating, “Linn brings not only a wealth of experience but a vision perfectly in sync with the trajectory of our company.”

Both leaders highlighted the importance of innovation, strategic planning, and sustainability. Shaw reiterated the company’s commitment to staying at the forefront of the dynamic aviation industry through a variety of innovative initiatives.

Expressing gratitude for this opportunity, Shaw added, “I’m honored to step into this role, and I’m excited about the journey ahead together.” Schulze will continue to play a vital role as Principal & Chief Compliance Officer in the business, which will focus on expanding and enhancing operational capabilities to fuel the next phase of KP Aviation’s success.

Their announcement also highlighted the company’s dedication to personal and professional development for team members, with a focus on diversity across the aviation industry. “Diversity has been a key driver of our success, and as such, we will continue to focus on hiring all areas of talent to the business,” said Shaw.

Over its 23 years, KP Aviation has prioritized team, culture, and deep technical intelligence. Shaw emphasized the significance of a supportive and inclusive workplace culture: “Our people are our strength. Creating an environment where everyone feels supported and included is non-negotiable.”

Schulze expressed full confidence in Shaw’s leadership, stating, “KP Aviation is in excellent hands with Linn Shaw at the helm. Under Linn’s leadership, our company will continue to soar to new heights.”

The leadership transition is effective immediately, and both Schulze and Shaw will work collaboratively during the transition period and in their new respective roles. 

About KP Aviation

KP Aviation is a leading global supplier of essential aftermarket materials and services, catering to the aviation industry’s evolving needs. With a strong commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, KP Aviation offers a comprehensive range of products and solutions that ensure optimal performance and safety. Headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, the company operates globally, serving a diverse customer base and maintaining strong relationships across the aviation ecosystem. For more information, visit www.kpaviation.net.

Investment to enable the company to expand its global market share through strategic growth initiatives

Experienced, founder-led management team will continue to lead the business.

Mesa, AZ – June 7, 2023 – KP Aviation (or the “Company”), a leading global supplier of essential aftermarket materials and services, today announced it received an investment from Bain Capital Special Situations to accelerate its global expansion and further its industry-leading position as the supplier of choice to the fixed-wing aviation marketplace. Financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed and proceeds will be used to purchase the interests of Balmoral Funds LLC, the Company’s current investment partner since 2015.

KP Aviation was founded in 2001 to provide high-quality materials and services to the fixed-wing aviation marketplace and has grown to become the preferred supplier of high-quality aftermarket components and assets across a broad range of aircraft and engine platforms. Today, the Company serves more than 4,000 airlines, aircraft maintenance companies, investment and leasing firms, and aviation aftermarket suppliers around the world. KP Aviation has a global footprint with locations in Europe, South Africa, and China to meet the growing needs of aviation customers. The Company’s existing management team led by founder and CEO Kim Schulze will continue to lead the business.

“This investment marks an exciting milestone in our growth trajectory and is a true testament to our culture of innovation and our 20+ year experience of optimizing value for customers across the fixed-wing aviation marketplace,” said Schulze. “In Bain Capital, we have found an aligned partner with deep aviation experience and operational capabilities to help us further scale our platform, foster new customer and supplier relationships, and diversify into new service lines and capabilities through a mix of organic and strategic growth initiatives.”

“KP Aviation fills a critical role in the aerospace supply chain, providing customers with mid-life, lower-cost aftermarket assets relative to original equipment manufacturer solutions, and we believe the business is well-positioned to capitalize on attractive sector tailwinds,” said Matt Evans, a Partner at Bain Capital Special Situations. “We have long admired KP Aviation and have been impressed with the Company’s highly differentiated business model and competitive advantages, experienced, founder-led management team, and impressive track record of growth and operational excellence.  We are excited to partner with Kim and the rest of the management team to support KP Aviation’s next phase of growth.”

Bain Capital Special Situations has deep experience supporting the growth of diversified aviation businesses, with experience investing in aircraft hard assets, airlines, aerospace manufacturers, and aviation and travel service providers.

Perella Weinberg Partners and Vedder Price served as KP Aviation’s financial and legal advisors, respectively.  Holland & Knight served as legal advisor to KP Aviation’s management team. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP served as legal advisor to Bain Capital Special Situations. 

About KP Aviation

KP Aviation is a leading global supplier of essential aftermarket materials and services, catering to the aviation industry’s evolving needs. With a strong commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, KP Aviation offers a comprehensive range of products and solutions that ensure optimal performance and safety. Headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, the company operates globally, serving a diverse customer base and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers. For more information, visit www.kpaviation.net.

About Bain Capital Special Situations

Bain Capital Special Situations is a global team of investors who have driven value creation for more than 20 years.  Bain Capital Special Situations has $18 billion in assets under management and has invested more than $28 billion since our inception in 2002. We provide bespoke capital solutions to meet the diverse needs of companies, entrepreneurs, and asset owners. Across all market cycles, the strategy brings together credit, equity, corporate and real asset expertise to partner where traditional providers cannot… Our dedicated, global team of more than 100 investment and portfolio professionals contribute the local expertise and capabilities that enable these diverse investments. For more information, please visit: https://baincapitalspecialsituations.com/

Media Contacts:

For KP Aviation:

Sumerae Sisemore

Brand Ambassador

(775) 851-3362

Sumerae.s@kpaviation.net

For Bain Capital:

Scott Lessne / Charlyn Lusk

Stanton

(646) 502-3569 / (646) 502-3549

slessne@stantonrpm.com / clusk@stantonprm.com

Shanghai, China, November 22^nd, 2021 — Mentis Aviation Group (MAG) announced it has entered into an agreement with KP Aviation (KPA), a Mesa, Arizona-based aviation company, to partner in parts distribution around China for KP Aviation, and sourcing of aircraft and engines to process through MAG’s Tear Down and Recycling facility in Hefei City, China.  The partnership with KP Aviation also provides additional leverage and support to MAG, once aircraft assets are successfully harvested in the recycling phase, to sell and distribute parts to key customer relationships worldwide.

The two parties are currently working to secure the first asset for tear down in Hefei and plan to steadily grow the cooperation.  According to the agreement, the two sides will work together to offer aftermarket aircraft parts and engine material from the dismantling process occurring in Hefei, along with offering parts solutions for aircraft operators within the greater China. 

“KP Aviation brings 20 years of aviation expertise providing high-quality materials and services to the fixed-wing aviation marketplace.  Working with KP Aviation will expand our international reach and services, thus enabling us to fully maximize returns on key aircraft assets we recycle in Hefei.  The cooperation will also enable us to secure aircraft from around the world and bring those to our facility in Hefei for recycling, followed by sales of the parts globally,” said Lydia Sheng, CEO and Founder of MAG. 

“Over the past five years, KPA has focused on the expansion of our global footprint, opening offices in the United Kingdom, Spain, and South Africa in support of our EMEA customer base. With China currently being the second largest domestic aviation market in the world, in addition to being the fastest growing market with a year over year 9.5% passenger traffic growth rate, it comes as no surprise that China is expected to take over the number one spot, making it our obvious next choice for location expansion. Through our collaborative efforts with Mentis Aviation Group, KP Aviation gains a trusted partner to handle the dismantling, material processing, marketing and sales of our inventory, further enabling the company to establish a reputable presence in the region. We are excited for the opportunity to partner with a company such as MAG, whose business activities and goals work so symbiotically with ours,” said Kim Schulze, CEO and Co-Founder of KPA.

To learn more about Mentis Aviation Group, visit their website www.mentisaviation.com.

Inc. Magazine Reveals Annual List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies—the Inc. 5000

NEW YORK, August 17, 2021 – Inc. magazine today revealed that KP Aviation is No. 4056 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

“KP Aviation was founded shortly before the devastation of 9/11 and is no stranger to navigating murky waters,” says KP Aviation CEO, Kim Schulze. “While the pandemic was particularly humbling for the aviation industry, our team took it as another opportunity to gain perspective and persist through difficult times. We successfully pivoted under pressure and are proud of our financial achievements over the last year, showing a growth of 175%.”

Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this year’s list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020’s unprecedented challenges. Among the 5,000, the average median three-year growth rate soared to 543 percent, and median revenue reached $11.1 million. Together, those companies added more than 610,000 jobs over the past three years.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc., which will be available on news stands on August 20th.

“The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis we’ve lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people.”

Hiring of industry vet in new position marks another key milestone in KPA’s efforts to expand their capabilities and services.

RENO, Nevada., July 12, 2021 – Today, KP Aviation (KPA) announced that they have welcomed Ben Gifford as the Vice President of Sales – Airframe, a new position within the company. Gifford is joining KPA from Stratton Aviation where he served as Vice President of Major Accounts. A veteran of the aviation industry, Gifford is bringing a decade plus of experience to the KP Aviation team. 

“Over the last five years, KPA has been working towards the goal of broadening our product offerings and improving our acquisition close ratio; We are buying the complete aircraft not just the engines. With this trajectory, we recognized the need for additional senior leadership and expertise to focus specifically on airframe material sales,” said KP Aviation’s COO, Mike Lantz regarding the new position. “Ben’s sales career accomplishments, industry relationships, and diverse skill set make him the perfect candidate to lead our newly established role as Vice President of Sales –Airframe,” CEO, Kim Schulze added.

Before pursuing a career in aviation, Gifford earned his BA in Economics from Fairfield University. During his successful tenure, Gifford has had consistently increasing responsibilities attributed to his technical knowledge, strategic mind, data driven approach, and problem-solving ability. Multifaceted, Gifford has acquired a diverse sales background ranging from e-based client services to maintenance and repair and is currently tackling aftermarket material sales.

KP Aviation is excited to announce the closing of the merger with Aircraft Landing Systems (ALS), a premier landing gear MRO company based in Hialeah, FL. The deal closed in Q1, on March 31st. Both entities will continue to operate under their own brands, with consolidation under the management of KP Aviation in Reno, NV.
The merger is part of KP Aviation strategic plan to continue in the vertical integration of its capabilities, bringing savings and additional profits on Chapter 32 material – landing gear, wheels, brakes and components – and solidifying its position as a one-stop-shop for the companies in the Air Transport industry. The merger creates an internal center of excellence dedicated to Chapter 32 material and led by the ALS team, allowing the company to redeploy the KP Aviation team to other opportunities and projects.

“This center of excellence is a further commitment to be the customers offsite technical advisor” said Kim Schulze, KP Aviation CEO. “The landing gear market is expected to exceed $14 billion in size by 2026, and we are excited to be able to bring the KP Aviation difference to this market”.

The combined team will have access to a larger portfolio of clients, generating synergies for both parts of the company. The new base in the Miami metro area will expand the company’s geographic footprint to a key market like Florida and will be developed into a new forward stocking location dedicated to the expansion in the Latin and South American MRO market.

“The landing gear MRO market is shifting more and more from the typical heavy maintenance to on- condition, on-demand maintenance and we believe that our expanded expertise and capabilities brought by joining the KP Aviation family will strengthen our position in the market as well as open many additional opportunities”, said Felipe Garcia, ALS Managing Partner.

Authoritative Aviation Week and Space Technology magazine has taken a look at how the recovery will impact commercial aviation, forecasting what will be “in” and what will be “out”.

Here are the forecasts:

• In: short-haul low-cost airlines
• Out: long-haul low-cost airlines
• In: Airbus A350
• Out: Airbus A380
• In: Boeing 777-300ER
• Out: Boeing 777X
• In: Boeing 787
• Out: Airbus A330neo
• In: Airbus A321XLR
• Out: Boeing 737-9/10

For more information, take a look at the entire story here