Graham Partners buys Desser Tire

Graham Partners, a private investment firm, has bought a majority shareholding in Desser Tire & Rubber Company and affiliated companies, Aero Wheel & Brake Service Corporation and Cee Bailey’s Aircraft Plastics. Collectively referred to as “Desser” the business is primarily a leading supplier of aircraft tyres and tubes from its Los Angeles and Memphis facilities to customers in over 100 countries.

According to the private equity company, Graham Partners has been proactively seeking to make investments in the aviation product aftermarket, which Desser serves. Family-owned and operated since 1920, and exclusively focused on aviation markets since 1985, Desser supplies new aircraft tyres, as well as other aviation products. Desser also holds Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approvals for high speed aircraft tyre retreading and wheel and brake services, and produces aviation transparencies for aftermarket applications.

Graham Partners seeks not only to invest capital, but also to utilize its longstanding industry knowledge, resources, and contacts to improve operations and promote growth for its portfolio companies. Graham intends to leverage its operating resources and industry expertise to capitalize on Desser’s strong brand name and reputation.

Chris Lawler, managing principal at Graham Partners, states, “Desser is an established market leader with unparalleled name recognition among customers for aircraft tires and unique capabilities; we look forward to partnering with Desser’s management team to build upon Desser’s record of success as a specialized aviation product supplier.” cja