Aviation aftermarket services provider AAR CORP. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 65% controlling interest in MRO Holdings for an equity value of approximately $1.8 billion. The transaction will create the largest heavy maintenance provider in the global aviation industry.

Announced in a company press release on September 28, 2026, the acquisition is based on an implied enterprise value of $4.0 billion for MRO Holdings. The deal is expected to close in February 2027, aligning with AAR’s fiscal third quarter, and represents a major expansion of the company’s integrated aftermarket platform.

Financial Structure and Stakeholder Equity

AAR expects to fund the transaction using $2.1 billion in new debt. This capital will cover the initial 65% interest and repay $1.3 billion of MRO Holdings’ existing borrowings.

The transaction structure includes issuing $780 million in equity, priced at $135 per share, to existing MRO Holdings shareholders. Current investors include private equity firm Bain Capital, Caoba Capital, and the family of MRO Holdings founder Roberto Kriete. Bain Capital will retain a residual position in the maintenance firm while taking an equity stake in AAR.

The funding strategy also incorporates $230 million in expected proceeds from a private investment in public equity (PIPE) offering led by The Pritzker Organization.

AAR holds options to acquire the remaining 35% ownership interest in MRO Holdings. A 5% stake is exercisable within six years of closing, while the final 30% is exercisable in three equal tranches on the second, third, and fourth anniversaries of the initial closing.

Operational Scale and Projected Synergies

MRO Holdings operates facilities across El Salvador, Mexico, Colombia, and the United States, employing approximately 10,000 professionals. The company manages 115 lines of airframe maintenance capacity and derives roughly 90% of its revenue from U.S. customers.

Once integrated, the combined entity expects to service nearly 3,000 aircraft annually. AAR Chairman, President and CEO John M. Holmes stated that heavy maintenance serves as a foundational element of the company’s platform, driving revenue to all other operational areas.

Financially, MRO Holdings is projected to generate $1.0 billion in sales and $285 million in adjusted EBITDA for calendar year 2026, representing a 27% adjusted EBITDA margin. The acquisition price reflects a 10.7x multiple on that forecasted EBITDA. AAR anticipates $75 million in run-rate cost synergies and expects $150 million in present value from transaction-related tax benefits.

AirPro News analysis

We view this acquisition as a definitive acceleration of AAR’s long-term aftermarket platform strategy. By securing a controlling interest in MRO Holdings, AAR is locking in massive, established heavy maintenance capacity across the Americas. This move follows AAR’s March 2024 acquisition of Triumph Group’s product support business, demonstrating a sustained aggressive posture toward market consolidation.

The heavy reliance of MRO Holdings on U.S. customers aligns perfectly with AAR’s domestic strength, while the nearshore footprint in Latin America provides cost-effective, high-volume airframe maintenance capacity. As airlines continue to operate older aircraft longer due to ongoing original equipment manufacturer (OEM) delivery delays, securing guaranteed heavy maintenance slots has become a critical operational priority. AAR is positioning itself to capture that sustained demand directly.

Sources: AAR CORP.

Werner Aero has acquired an Airbus A319-100 for its aircraft teardown program, marking the aviation aftermarket supplier’s third airframe acquisition in August 2026.

The New Jersey-based company, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation Group, announced the transaction in a September 17 press release, highlighting the continued expansion of its parts recovery and material reuse operations.

Fleet transition and teardown operations

The newly acquired narrowbody, identified as manufacturer serial number (MSN) 2897, was delivered to eCube Solutions at its facility in St Athan, Wales. The aircraft will be dismantled to support Werner Aero’s global spare parts inventory.

This transaction brings the company’s total aircraft acquisitions for the year to 16 through the end of August. Of those, 14 have been allocated specifically to the teardown program, which focuses on recovering high-demand components for active commercial fleets.

Aftermarket strategy

Werner Aero specializes in end-of-life asset management and spare parts provisioning for several major commercial aircraft families. The company’s teardown portfolio primarily targets the Airbus A320 family, Boeing 737 Next Generation, Embraer E-Jet, and Bombardier CRJ platforms.

AirPro News analysis

We view this steady pace of acquisitions as a direct reflection of the current commercial aviation aftermarket. With global supply chain constraints continuing to impact new aircraft deliveries and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) spare parts availability, operators are increasingly reliant on the used serviceable material (USM) market to keep existing fleets flying. Werner Aero’s acquisition of 16 airframes in just eight months underscores the high demand for mature narrowbody components, particularly for ubiquitous platforms like the A320 family.

Sources: Werner Aero

Intelligent power management company Eaton announced on September 23, 2026, the expansion of its aerospace aftermarket operations in the Asia-Pacific region, highlighted by a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 145 Repair Station certification for its joint venture in Malaysia and a new engineering investment in Singapore.

In a press release issued during the MRO Asia-Pacific 2026 event, Eaton detailed the dual initiatives aimed at strengthening its regional maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) footprint. The FAA certification authorizes Eaton Aero Services (EAS) to perform approved maintenance and issue airworthiness release certificates, while the Singapore expansion focuses on product innovation and engineering solutions.

Regulatory approval expands Malaysian joint venture capabilities

Eaton holds a 51 percent equity stake in EAS, with SIA Engineering Company Limited (SIAEC) holding the remaining 49 percent. The joint venture was officially incorporated in June 2024 and operates out of a facility in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. The partnership was established to inspect, test, repair, and overhaul Eaton-manufactured aircraft components.

The newly announced FAA Part 145 certification allows EAS to conduct FAA-approved MRO services on components installed on airframe and engine fuel systems, as well as hydraulic systems. This approval adds to the facility’s existing regulatory certifications from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

Singapore engineering and innovation investment

Alongside the Malaysian MRO developments, Eaton confirmed an expansion of its aerospace engineering capabilities in Singapore. This initiative is supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

The Singapore investment will target aerospace product innovation, engineering solutions, and MRO process improvements. It will also support retrofit, modification, and upgrade (RMU) programs for operators in the region. Ian Lam, managing director of Eaton’s Aerospace Group for the Asia-Pacific region, stated that the EDB-supported investment is strengthening the company’s engineering capabilities and enabling more responsive customer solutions.

“Together with EAS’s FAA certification, these developments position Eaton to serve customers with greater speed, flexibility and proximity while strengthening our regional aftermarket presence,” Lam said.

AirPro News analysis

The dual announcements from Eaton highlight a broader industry trend of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) localizing their aftermarket support networks in the Asia-Pacific market. By securing FAA Part 145 certification for the EAS joint venture, Eaton and SIAEC can now capture a wider segment of the regional MRO market, particularly for operators requiring FAA-certified component releases. The parallel investment in Singapore engineering capabilities suggests Eaton is positioning itself not just for component repair, but for higher-margin retrofit and modification programs as airlines seek to extend the operational life of existing fleets.

Sources: Eaton Press Release (September 23, 2026)