Exclusive: The Sterling Group just clocked its 4th major exit of 2025, selling Weststar Aviation Group to Greenbriar Equity Group, L.P.

West Star, one of the top MRO players in the US (aircraft maintenance, repair & operations), was acquired by Sterling in 2022 and scaled up fast with notable acquisitions like Jet East and Jet Parts expanding both workforce and distribution reach.

With ~$100M EBITDA, the sale was shopped by Harris Williams and Jefferies last fall, eventually landing in the hands of Greenbriar — a long-time aviation-focused firm with plans to bulk up its MRO play around Sunvair Aerospace Group.

Notable: West Star’s AOG (Aircraft on Ground) division is now the largest in the US, with 250+ mobile technicians servicing grounded jets on the fly literally.

This isn’t just another PE exit. It reflects:

→ The return of strategic M&A activity in aviation

→ The strength of operationally heavy PE playbooks

→ The growing relevance of asset-heavy verticals like infrastructure and aerospace in a higher-rate environment

Sterling’s other 2025 exits:

PowerGrid Services → Apollo Global Management, Inc.

Artisan Design Group → Lowe's Companies, Inc. ($1.3B)

Frontline Road Safety → Bain Capital

Insight: All four exits are from Sterling’s legacy Funds IV & V. They’re now deploying Fund VI ($3.5B) with focus on underinvested, high-demand sectors: roadways, aerospace, infra, and residential building products.