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Just because that a company has bought other companies in the past does not mean that they can't be bought themselves. It's a question about $$$. Has been done many times before, and is also happening with a lot of other type companies all the time...

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LONDON/AMSTERDAM, April 20 (Reuters) - Southern European private equity firm Investindustrial is seeking to sell helicopter firm Grupo Inaer for as much as 675 million euros ($908 million), people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.
Based in Spain, Inaer operates fleets of helicopters and aeroplanes, aiding in medical emergencies, forest fire-fighting, and maritime salvage. It also has operations in Britain, Chile, Italy and Portugal.
The sale, which is being handled by JPMorgan, would be the latest in a series of so-called "secondary buyouts" in Europe, where private equity firms sell each other portfolio companies.
Inaer is likely to attract interest from buyout firms keen on business services, and those with a solid Iberian footprint, the people said. That list could include firms such as Apax [APAX.UL], Carlyle [CYL.UL], Cinven [CINV.UL] and Charterhouse [CHCAP.UL], two of the people said.
The company has earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of about 75 million euros and could fetch about 7 to 9 times that figure, these people added -- implying a price tag of 525 to 675 million euros.
Bidders are preparing indicative offers after receiving information documents, the people said, and will now take part in a standard two-stage auction.
Potential buyers will have to grapple with Inaer's hefty capital expenditure needs: it invested almost 80 million euros in its fleet in 2008, according to its website, compared to a turnover of nearly 250 million euros.
Investindustrial bought a 75 percent stake in predecessor company Inaer Inversiones Aereas SRL for 205 million euros in July 2005, according to Thomson Reuters data.
Investindustrial declined to comment. The private equity firms had no immediate comment.

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KKR takes minority stake in helicopter firm Inaer

Wed Apr 28, 2010 6:56pm EDT






LONDON, April 28 (Reuters) - U.S Private Equity Group Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) said on Wednesday it had entered into a partnership with Investindustrial to take a minority stake in helicopter firm Grupo Inaer.
The transaction, which was handled by JPMorgan and Credit Suisse, follows a series of so-called "secondary buyouts" in Europe, where private equity firms sell each other portfolio companies.
Under the terms of the deal KKR will take a minority stake of 49.9 percent, while Spanish-based Inaer's current owners, the Southern European private equity firm Investindustrial, will retain a 50.1 percent majority stake.
KKR said the deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, had an enterprise value consideration of 700 million euros ($932.3 million).
Inaer operates fleets of helicopters and aeroplanes, aiding in medical emergencies, forest fire-fighting, and maritime salvage. It also has operations in Britain, Chile, France, Italy and Portugal.
Investindustrial's Chairman Andrea Bonomi said in a statement the partnership with KKR would help drive Inaer's long-term growth.
"Inaer has an important period ahead of it as it operates in a highly fragmented market with long-term growth underpinned by increased outsourcing and security standards," Bonomi said.
"KKR's global expertise and long-term vision to support the growth of Inaer make them an ideal partner and we look forward to working with them in this next phase of development."
Inaer has earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of about 75 million euros.
Investindustrial bought a 75 percent stake in predecessor company Inaer Inversiones Aereas SRL for 205 million euros in July 2005, according to Thomson Reuters data.

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