Market Intelligence: -Investments and Acquisitions

Flight Training Management Software Announces Additional Growth Investment

FlightLogger, the leading provider of cloud-based flight school management software, has secured an additional, significant growth investment from Arcadea Group, a permanent capital investor in high-growth VSaaS companies. This marks the second growth equity investment led by Arcadea in FlightLogger, with the first completed in 2022.

With this new investment, FlightLogger is poised to accelerate its product roadmap and market coverage, including groundbreaking features like an AI-driven auto-scheduling suite and advanced analytics tools, ensuring that flight academies using the software remain at the cutting edge of technology and efficiency.

Paul Yancich, Managing Director of Arcadea, highlighted the strategic decision behind the additional investment: “FlightLogger has surpassed our expectations and has an even bigger opportunity than we had originally thought. This capital will accelerate what they’re already doing so well.”

Mads Larsen, CEO of FlightLogger, added, “While competitors are driven by short-term financial targets, FlightLogger remains focused on delivering value and innovation for the long haul. Our long-term success relies on our ability to continuously add more value to flight academies. This investment allows us to accelerate our ambitious roadmap, including our soon-to-be-released AI-driven auto-scheduling suite, insights tools, and other products and enhancements.”

Kenneth Jeppesen, Founder and continued equity holder of FlightLogger, added, “Our vision for the industry is bold and ambitious. We’re thrilled to be able to add additional resources in order to execute against our customer-centric approach to growth.”

About FlightLogger
FlightLogger, founded in 2011, provides a comprehensive cloud-based platform designed specifically for flight schools. The software integrates scheduling, student management, maintenance tracking, and billing into one seamless system, helping flight schools of all sizes operate more efficiently. FlightLogger’s platform is used by 200 flight schools across Europe, Asia, North America, and beyond.

About Arcadea Group
Arcadea Group invests in high-quality, capital-efficient, founder-led software companies over ultra-long-term durations. With offices in Toronto, Canada, and Orlando, Florida, and investments globally, Arcadea leverages its permanent capital structure to support the long-term growth potential of industry-leading SaaS vendors.

Source: Flightlogger

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Comply365 Announces Acquisition of Training Management System Solution Provider Qualtero

Beloit, Wis. / Bristol, England / Tel Aviv, Israel – September 4, 2024 – Comply365, LLC (“Comply365”), a leading global provider of compliance and safety management solutions for the aviation, rail and defense industries, announced the acquisition of Qualtero Limited (“Qualtero”), a leading provider of solutions to optimize civil and military aviation training operations. The acquisition will create a leading global all-in-one compliance, safety and training platform for peak operational performance serving the aviation, defense and rail industries with over 140 customers located in over 30 countries on six continents. Terms of the transaction were not announced.

In January 2024, Insight Partners, a global software investor, and Liberty Hall Capital Partners (“Liberty Hall”), a private equity firm focused exclusively on investments in businesses serving the global aerospace and defense industry, announced a strategic growth investment in Comply365 in connection with Comply365’s merger with VistairLimited (“Vistair”). The acquisition of Qualtero represents Comply365’s first acquisition since its merger with Vistair.

Commenting on the acquisition of Qualtero, Tom Samuel, Vice Chairman, and Rob Morgan, CEO, of Comply365 said, “We are delighted to welcome the Qualtero team into the Comply365 family. Qualtero is a world-renowned provider of innovative training and qualification management solutions for civil and military aviation, with a stellar global customer base. This acquisition brings together complementary product lines and talent, further bolstering our ability to deliver a unique value proposition to our customers by connecting the dots between operational content management, safety management, training management, and data analytics.”

Barak Kirmayer, CEO of Qualtero said, “The acquisition of Qualtero by Comply365 marks a significant milestone in Qualtero’s journey. We see immense synergy between the companies’ solutions and teams, and with the support of Comply365, we are poised to deliver even greater value and more innovative products to our combined customers.”

Henry Frankievich, Managing Director at Insight Partners said, “The acquisition of Qualtero is a natural extension of Comply365’s strategy to create a comprehensive compliance and safety platform serving the global aviation, defense and rail industries. We believe that the addition of Qualtero’s widely respected training and qualifications management capabilities will enable our customers to achieve the highest levels of operational excellence. We look forward to continuing to work with Liberty Hall to support Comply365 in their continued growth.”

James Black, Partner at Liberty Hall Capital Partners added, “With the acquisition of Qualtero, Comply365 extends the value proposition it offers to airlines, defense and rail organizations by expanding its capacity to power operational excellence with a leading training management offering. Along with our partners at Insight, we look forward to supporting Comply365’s continued growth, combining the strengths and expertise of both organizations to deliver even greater value to our collective customers.”

Legal advice to Comply365 was provided by Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Goldfarb Gross Seligman. Qualtero was advised by DLA Piper and Barnea Jaffa Lande & Co.

About Comply365

Comply365 is a leading provider of Operational Content Management, Safety Management and Training Management in the highly regulated industries of aviation, defense and rail.  Comply365 provides a powerful combination of expertise and products underpinned by unified best practices, providing airlines, rail and defense organizations with a single digital platform to elevate operational excellence, transform safety management and training, with closer integration of relevant data sets across domains.By empowering airline, rail and defense organizations with an all-in-one compliance, safety, training and data platform, Comply365 ensures their crews and assets always geared for peak operational performance, unlocking unparalleled financial and operational gains through more streamlined, robust and agile operations. Comply365 is the trusted technology partner of many of the most progressive aviation and defenseorganizations worldwide with a global customer base of over 120 airlines, defense and rail organizations.

About Qualtero

Qualtero is a premier provider of training management solutions, empowering organizations to deliver impactful training experiences that drive compliance performance and growth. Qualtero specializes in developing innovative solutions for optimizing commercial and military aviation training operations. Its flagship products include Fox, a comprehensive Training Management System, and Qualtero EQMS, the most modern Qualification Management System. These tools help aviation training organizations of all sizes streamline processes, reduce costs, and enhance throughput.Qualtero’s team of talented and experienced professionals employ proven methodologies to ensure complete customer success, continuously enhancing its solutions with the latest technology to meet their evolving needs.

About Insight Partners

Insight Partners is a global software investor partnering with high-growth technology, software, and Internet startup and ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. As of December 31, 2023, the firm has over $80B in regulatory assets under management. Insight Partners has invested in more than 800 companies worldwide and has seen over 55 portfolio companies achieve an IPO. Headquartered in New York City, Insight has offices in London, Tel Aviv and the Bay Area. Insight’s mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with tailored, hands-on software expertise along their growth journey, from their first investment to IPO.

About Liberty Hall

Liberty Hall Capital Partners is a private equity firm focused exclusively on investments in businesses serving the global aerospace and defense industry. Liberty Hall’s principals have a 25-plus year history of working together and have led the investment of over $2.5 billion in equity capital in over 25 businesses serving multiple segments of the aerospace and defense industry. Liberty Hall was founded in July 2011 as the first, and remains the only, private equity firm focused solely on investments in middle market businesses serving the aerospace and defense industry. Liberty Hall executes a proven and repeatable investment strategy designed to transform middle market businesses into larger, more capable and diverse strategic assets.

Source: Qualtero
Photo Credit: Qualtero

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Global Flight Training Group, Airways Aviation, Acquires Italian Flight Training Organisation Professione Volare

Global flight training group Airways Aviation, which operates pilot training academies across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and India has shared that it has acquired Professione Volare, one of Italy’s oldest and most prestigious commercial Flight Training Schools. Announcement from Airways Aviation below.

“This acquisition represents a major milestone in the history of Airways Aviation and aligns with our strategic vision to maintain our position as one of the world’s leading providers of aviation education and training.

Founded in 1994, Professione Volare has long been recognised as a cornerstone of aviation education in Italy. With a legacy that now spans 30 years, the institution has built an outstanding reputation for its commitment to excellence in training aspiring Commercial Pilots. By acquiring Professione Volare, Airways Aviation not only extends its footprint in Europe but also enhances its ability to deliver top-tier aviation training through a combination of advanced technology, experienced faculty, and a rich tradition of quality instruction.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Professione Volare into the Airways Aviation family. This acquisition represents a significant advancement in our mission to expand our footprint and provide our world-class flight training across Europe and the surrounding regions. Professione Volare has a proud and long history of producing exceptional pilots and we are eager to build on this solid foundation as we continue to grow our global network and industry partnerships. We look forward to the continued success that this acquisition and expansion promises to bring,” said Mauro Calvano, CEO of Airways Aviation Italy.

Airways Aviation’s strategic enhancement of its European operations now includes:

  • Professione Volare’s Approved Training Organisation (IT ATO 020), fully certified for ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License) training,
  • Maintenance Organisation (IT CAO 024 – formerly a Diamond Service Centre).

This facility is fully approved and equipped for comprehensive maintenance on the Diamond fleet, further supporting the operational efficiency and safety of Airways Aviation’s training aircraft.

The Airways Aviation European fleet has now expanded by nine aircraft, including Diamond DA42, DA40, and DA20 models, all renowned for their reliability and advanced technology. Notably, Professione Volare was one of the first operators of Diamond training aircraft in Italy, and its expertise in this area will greatly benefit Airways Aviation’s training programs, further solidifying its position as the operator of the largest Diamond Aircraft fleet in Europe.

In addition to expanding its fleet, enhancing its capabilities, and ensuring that students have access to the best training equipment across multiple locations, Airways Aviation has acquired ownership of Professione Volare’s hangars, classrooms, operations, and administrative buildings, as well as an additional ALSIM ALX simulator for its training resources in Italy. These additions complement the existing and expanding number of owned and operated facilities and equipment across Airways Aviation globally.

In further news, Airways Aviation Professione Volare is finalising the renovations and fit-out of its new Aviation Theory / Ground Training Centre located within Volandia (Italys largest Aeronautical Museum) adjacent to Milan Malpensa International Airport. Upon completion, this facility will deliver EASA-certified Theory Programs to complement the practical flying facilities in both Forli and a new fair-weather base in Southern Italy.

This acquisition is not just about expanding physical assets; it is part of a global vision for aviation excellence with a strong, strategic European presence. It supports management, staff, and airline industry needs by providing the right professional quality of training and resources, while enriching the educational experience for aviation cadets and students worldwide. By integrating Professione Volare’s esteemed program into its offerings, Airways Aviation is poised to continue delivering an unparalleled level of well located resources, ensuring that the aviation industry is supplied with graduates equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

“The acquisition of Professione Volare is yet another pivotal moment in our journey to redefine aviation education and training on a global scale. This strategic move not only strengthens our presence in Europe but also deepens our commitment to the aviation industry generally. As we integrate decades of quintessentially Italian expertise into our global network, Professione Volare’s legacy of excellence, combined with Airways Aviation’s unique business model, innovative approach and global reach, ensures that we are uniquely positioned to continue to shape the future of aviation.,” said Romy Hawatt, Founder and Chairman of the Airways Aviation Group.

About Airways Aviation

With over 45 years of international experience and a growing number of education & training locations strategically positioned across Europe, the Middle East and Australia, the Airways Aviation Group boasts being the largest privately owned group of multidisciplinary aviation academies of its kind delivering first class Military and Commercial Pilot training. Our advanced education & training programs couple practical & theory techniques within courses that are designed to match the rapidly increasing demand for Military and Civil clients seeking optimum training and licensing outcomes. The Airways Aviation Group has trained more than 10,000 EASA and CASA certified commercial pilots, graduated over 25,000 cabin, ground handling and maintenance professionals, and maintains Europe’s largest fleet of Diamond DA40, Diamond DA42 aircraft along with multiple Cessna 172, Cessna 182, and Piper Seminole aircraft with a diverse range of avionics systems and retractable undercarriage.

About Professione Volare

Founded in 1994, Professione Volare is one of Italy’s most respected flight training institutions. With decades of experience, the school has a proven track record of producing highly skilled commercial pilots who are well-prepared for careers in aviation. For 30 years, Professione Volare has been a reference point in Italy for aeronautical training, having trained numerous professional pilots who have obtained their licenses and ratings and now work as Commanders or First Officers in airlines around the world.

Source: Airways Aviation
Photo Credit: Airways Aviation

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Flight Training Financing Provider Stratus Financial Announces New Up to $50 Million Forward Flow Facility

Stratus Financial LLC, a trusted consumer finance platform committed to providing student loans to aspiring student pilots at all levels of experience, announced a forward flow facility of up to $50 million from funds managed by Monachil Capital Partners LP (“Monachil”). Stratus intends to use the new financing to originate new student loans, further diversifying its existing base of capital providers. The new financing partnership includes an initial sale of Stratus’ existing portfolio of loans and will primarily support the origination of new loans.

“This level of partnership with Monachil Capital Partners represents a significant milestone in the evolution of our capital markets strategies. This partnership not only underscores the growing sophistication of our approach but also reflects our commitment to fostering institutional relationships that drive our mission forward,” said Alan Rios, Chief Investment Officer at Stratus.

“Stratus has built an impressive origination and servicing platform serving a highly-attractive niche in consumer lending. Stratus has a unique business model and generates attractive assets in an underserved market, providing much-needed solutions to consumers,” said Jacob Zeldin, Portfolio Manager at Monachil. “We believe strongly in the Company’s mission and look forward to supporting its growth plans with this new partnership.”

“This new financing agreement with Monachil Capital Partners aligns Stratus with a capital partner that shares our vision and enhances our ability to deliver impactful solutions to the aviation education market,” said Anthony Geraci, CEO and Co-Founder of Stratus. “Monachil has proven to be a valuable partner, demonstrating a deep understanding of our business and values. We are excited to build this partnership and continuing to provide our borrowers with a seamless and exceptional lending experience.”

“This new round of funding will empower more aspiring aviators to earn their wings in 2024, solidifying Stratus’ position as the premier provider of flight training financing,” said Brandon Martini, COO and Co-Founder of Stratus. The Monachil partnership supports future growth at Stratus, which since inception, has originated more than 600 loans and is currently working with more than 260 FAA-chartered flight schools throughout North America. Stratus has also been recognized for its particular focus on super-prime borrowers giving the Company an edge over other consumer finance strategies. Edgar Matthews & Co. LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Stratus on the transaction.

About Monachil
Founded in 2019, Monachil Capital Partners LP is a Greenwich, CT based private credit manager focused on opportunistic investing. The firm specializes in providing bespoke funding to global lending and tech-enabled platforms that operate in the alternative lending space and are participating in the disintermediation of the traditional banking complex. Monachil leverages proprietary technology to create an interface with borrowers’ platforms, enabling the consumption of real-time data and allowing for the active management of inherent risks.

About Stratus Financial
Founded in 2020 by FAA Certified Flight and Ground Instructors who are passionate about helping others achieve their dreams of flight, Stratus is a consumer finance platform providing flexible and innovative educational funding solutions to students pursuing aviation education and training. Stratus is fully geared to marry Student Success and School Success with several programs designed for Flight Schools, by Flight Schools and is on a mission to help aspiring pilots achieve their flight dreams as swiftly as possible through hassle-free flight school loan programs.

Source: Stratus Financial
Photo Credit: Stratus Financial

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