H.I.G. Capital has completed the acquisition of International Aerospace Coatings (IAC), marking another major investment in the expanding aviation services and aircraft maintenance sector as airlines worldwide continue modernizing fleets and extending aircraft operational lifecycles.
The company was acquired from Tiger Infrastructure Partners, which had owned IAC since 2022 and oversaw a significant period of operational expansion and infrastructure growth across North America and Europe. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Headquartered in Irvine, California, and Shannon, Ireland, International Aerospace Coatings operates one of the aviation industry’s largest specialized aircraft painting networks, with 25 airport hangars dedicated to aircraft refinishing, painting, branding, and aviation support services.
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The company serves a broad customer base that includes commercial airlines, aircraft OEMs, cargo operators, leasing companies, and government aviation clients. In addition to aircraft painting operations, IAC also provides engineering, technical support, and asset management services through its Eirtech Aviation Services division.
Under Tiger Infrastructure’s ownership, IAC significantly expanded its operational footprint, increasing its hangar network from 17 to 25 facilities through strategic development projects across key aviation markets. The expansion included new or enlarged operations in Portland, Oregon; Amarillo and Fort Worth in Texas; Teruel in Spain; and Malta.
According to Tiger Infrastructure, the company experienced strong customer demand during the investment period, enabling IAC to secure long-term agreements with major airlines and aircraft manufacturers while strengthening its position within the global aviation services ecosystem.
Emil Henry, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tiger Infrastructure Partners, said the investment reflected the firm’s strategy of scaling specialized mid-market infrastructure platforms into globally competitive aviation service providers.
“Since our investment in 2022, we have worked closely with IAC’s management team to scale the business into a blue-chip infrastructure platform by significantly expanding its stable of assets on both sides of the Atlantic,” Henry stated.
The acquisition comes at a time when aircraft painting and cabin refurbishment activities are becoming increasingly important within the global aviation sector. Airlines are investing heavily in fleet modernization programmes, updated aircraft branding, interior upgrades, and cabin refresh projects as passenger demand continues recovering and competition intensifies across international markets.
Martin O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer of International Aerospace Coatings said the company intends to continue expanding its global capabilities under H.I.G. Capital’s ownership. “We are thrilled to welcome H.I.G. as a partner, as we scale IAC to meet growing demand for high-quality aircraft painting services,” O’Connell said. “With H.I.G.’s experience and resources, we plan to expand our geographic footprint, invest in additional hangar capacity, and selectively pursue add-on acquisitions,” he added.
For the aircraft interiors sector, the continued growth of companies such as IAC highlights the increasingly integrated nature of exterior refinishing, cabin refurbishment, and overall aircraft appearance management within airline branding strategies. Modern repainting programmes are often conducted alongside cabin retrofit projects, inflight product upgrades, seating modernization, and interior refresh initiatives aimed at improving passenger perception and extending asset value.
Doug Berman, Co-President of H.I.G. Capital, noted that airlines, lessors, and OEMs are placing greater emphasis on operational reliability, turnaround efficiency, and service consistency as aviation fleets continue expanding globally. “IAC has built an outstanding reputation for quality, reliability, and customer service,” Berman stated.
As airlines continue investing in fleet presentation, passenger experience enhancements, and long-term asset preservation strategies, demand for specialized aircraft painting, cabin refurbishment, and aviation support infrastructure is expected to remain strong across the global aerospace market.
