ANTIN INFRASTRUCTURE takes majority stake in HIGH PERFORMANCE HELICOPTERS
Context
Antin Infrastructure Partners acquired a majority stake in High Performance Helicopters, the US specialty helicopter operator, in a deal announced on 1 October 2026, the eighth investment of its NextGen Infrastructure Fund I. Co-founder Brad Bauder kept a minority holding, and Santiago Crespo, a helicopter and aircraft industry executive, joined as chief financial officer. Antin based its investment on two trends: rising demand for emergency response to wildfires linked to climate change, and a growing need for heavy-lift helicopter services to modernise ageing infrastructure and support electrification and the expansion of power grids for artificial intelligence. It planned to enlarge the fleet, improve efficiency and continue the shift towards long-term exclusive-use contracts with clients seeking guaranteed availability, at a time of structural shortage of heavy-duty helicopters. Goodwin Procter acted as legal counsel to Antin, with Cozen O'Connor as aviation regulatory counsel. Red Mountain Capital Advisors served as financial advisor to the sellers, with Varner & Brandt as legal counsel and Jetlaw as aviation regulatory counsel.
HIGH PERFORMANCE HELICOPTERS, which reported an EBITDA margin of in 2026, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of , a level to compare with the average currently observed in the Business Services sector (11.4x).
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Target
Founded in 2005 by Brad and Tracey Bauder and headquartered in Redlands, California, High Performance Helicopters operates helicopters for heavy-lift work, aerial firefighting, utility infrastructure support, construction in remote areas and aerospace research and development. Its fleet flies for state and federal government agencies, utility companies, engineering, procurement and construction firms, and aerospace and defence groups across the western United States. The company is certified to carry hazardous materials, external cargo and people on external loads, and supports its operations with mobile maintenance teams that follow the aircraft to mission sites.
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REFERENCES
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Authors: This transaction was contributed by a verified mynth contributor and cross-checked against available transaction documents and official company communications.
Press release: view release
Target: high performance helicopters
Acquirer: antin infrastructure