Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group acquires Beechcraft's European MRO business, Hawker Beechcraft Ltd.

Tuesday 3rd September 2013

Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group (Marshall ADG) announced today the purchase of Beechcraft's flagship European MRO business, Hawker Beechcraft Limited.  At its Broughton location in the UK, the site, also known as Hawker Beechcraft Services Chester, has provided a full range of maintenance, modification, paint and upgrade services to owners of Hawker and Beechcraft aircraft for over 50 years.  The business will be known as 'Marshall Aviation Services.'

Announcing the deal, which was signed on 30th August 2013, Steve Fitz-Gerald, CEO of Marshall ADG comments: "We are committed to a strategy of building our civil aerospace business and I am delighted that Hawker Beechcraft Limited has become part of Marshall Aviation Services. This is our second business aviation acquisition this year and demonstrates our ambition to grow and become a major player in the business and commercial aviation marketplace."

Marshall ADG will continue to provide a vital service and support role for Beechcraft throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa and has been granted Authorised Service Centre status for Hawker and King Air aircraft.

Christi Tannahill, Senior Vice President, Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support, said: "We view the transition of our service facility to Marshall as a positive development for customers, employees and the aviation industry in the region. We are confident Hawker and Beechcraft owners and operators will continue to receive world-class support through this newly designated Authorised Service Centre. We consider the employees to be one of the facility's greatest assets and are pleased the Marshall team plans to capitalise on those valuable resources."

Marshall Aviation Services also plans to broaden the range of aircraft types supported at Broughton and leverage its design and integration expertise to provide aircraft manufacturers, governments and specialist operators with innovative engineering and support solutions to satisfy special mission requirements.

Steve Jones, Managing Director of Marshall Aviation Services, comments: "This exciting acquisition will enable us to focus on developing a 'Centre of Excellence' for business aviation. The company's workforce, hangars, interior workshop and customer facilities, along with its established onsite design engineering office, engine bay and state-of-the-art paint facility, are a great platform for us to build on."

Marshall Aviation Services (www.marshallas.com) is responsible for all of Marshall ADG's business and commercial aviation activities, including the management of Cambridge International Airport. Across its Broughton, Cambridge and Oxford locations it offers solutions including: maintenance, modification, refurbishment and conversion of business aircraft to Hawker, King Air and Cessna Citation aircraft amongst others.  The company also provides aircraft management and charter through FlairJet; sales of new Beechcraft Aircraft across the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia; hangarage at Cambridge Airport; and within JETability, aircraft brokerage and complementary services tailored to the requirements of business aircraft owners and operators.

Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group specialises in the conversion and modification of military, civil and business aircraft; defence vehicle engineering and shelter manufacture. Its capabilities include engineering design, manufacture and test, systems integration, maintenance and product support, and the provision of personnel, training and advice. The company is valued for its integrity, performance and customer focus which has been demonstrated through its innovative solutions and ability to deliver on-time and to-cost. Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group is part of the Marshall Group of Companies which employs over 4,500 people with a turnover in excess of £1.1bn.

Hawker Beechcraft Limited has a legacy of over 50 years. Located at the same airport in North Wales as the original Hawker production facility, it has provided heavy maintenance, modification, repairs, conversion and refurbishment solutions. It has grown to service and support the entire line-up of Hawker aircraft, the Premier IA and the reputable King Air 200 and 300 series.

In 1965 Hawker Siddeley set up a factory maintenance and repair facility for Hawker at Broughton.  In 1977, Hawker Siddeley's aircraft interests were divested into British Aerospace.  BAe sold its business jets division to Raytheon in 1993, at which time Raytheon reinforced the facility's location as critical for the support of Hawker aircraft in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.  In 1996, Hawker final assembly transferred to Wichita, however wing and fuselage fabrication remained at Broughton until production ceased in 2012. In 1997, the business was integrated into the Raytheon Aircraft Services network and the capability to support Beechjet, Premier IA and King Air aircraft was added.  In 2006, Raytheon Aircraft Company was sold to Hawker Beechcraft, which became a private company in 2013 named Beechcraft Corporation. Today, within Marshall Aviation Services, the facility will continue to provide an important service and support role for Beechcraft throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, whilst seeking out new opportunities to grow.

www.marshalladg.com