Aviation/PE Joint Venture Advice
What's up all my cool cats and kittens? I'm seeking some advice from the many smart folks available on this platform. This is my first post, so hopefully I don't get shit on too badly. I work at an aviation company.
I work in the leasing and trading division where we buy serviceable aircraft and engines, lease them out to Airlines/Lessors to utilize their remaining life, and then, once they become unserviceable, we transfer them to the USM group who manage the disassembly/repair of the components to resell to airlines or maintenance facilities. As of now, I manage a modest portfolio of around $50M in aircraft/engines, however recently we have partnered with a PE firm to put their money to work for them via aircraft/engine leases.
Once we start to really work together, there will be weekly calls with the PE firm to discuss all the things you would need to do in order to buy and lease engines or aircraft (financials, due diligence, credit considerations, inspections, market outlook by product type, etc.). We are a pretty small organization and we have a lot of people with years of technical expertise, and I want to make sure we are giving a good impression to the firm in which we have partnered with, not only on the ROI of the projects we manage on their behalf, but the deliverables (professional financial models, reporting packages, presentations, market outlook, etc). We are advising the firm and putting their money to work for them in this industry and I want to ensure they are completely satisfied with our service.
My concern is that there isn't anyone in my company that has significant experience on Wall St. or frequently interfacing with investors and while we know aviation very well, I'd like to be able to speak to the things that PE Funds care about, and that our reporting packages/deal discussions capture what really matter the most.
If you work at a PE firm, what kind of things do you most appreciate from your companies in which you partner with and for someone in my position, what is your biggest piece of advice to make sure this relationship is symbiotic and successful?
Thanks everyone, I truly appreciate your input (the good, bad, and ugly).
