Key Takeaways
- • Bain Capital agreed to acquire a majority stake in FDH Aero from Audax Private Equity, with the transaction signed on June 3, 2026, and expected to close in the second half of 2026.
- • FDH Aero is a 60+ year-old aerospace and defense supply chain solutions provider based in Commerce, California, with global operations spanning North America, Europe, and Asia, serving OEM and aftermarket customers across commercial, defense, and space sectors.
- • William Blair served as financial advisor to FDH Aero in the transaction, positioning the deal as a growth acceleration platform for operational innovation and customer-focused expansion.
- • Bain Capital, managing approximately $225 billion in assets under management across five investment focus areas, adds FDH Aero to its aerospace and defense portfolio, complementing prior sector investments like ITP Aero.
- • The transaction remains subject to customary regulatory approvals, with Audax maintaining a residual ownership stake post-close, reflecting a continuation of private equity ownership rather than a full exit.
Summary
Bain Capital Private Equity has agreed to acquire a majority stake in FDH Aero from current owner Audax Private Equity in a transaction that underscores continued institutional appetite for aerospace and defense supply chain infrastructure. The deal was signed on June 3, 2026, with closing anticipated in the second half of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals. William Blair acted as financial advisor to FDH Aero throughout the transaction process.
FDH Aero represents a significant platform asset within the aerospace and defense ecosystem. The company brings more than 60 years of operational history and specializes in hardware, electrical and electronic products, and consumable products and services serving original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and aftermarket customers across commercial, defense, and space sectors. The company maintains headquarters in Commerce, California, with operational footprint across North America, Europe, and Asia, establishing it as a genuinely global supply chain solutions partner.
Audax Private Equity, which acquired FDH as a portfolio company and has held the asset through a growth phase, is facilitating the transition to Bain Capital. Audax, founded in 1999 and based in Boston with $19.5 billion in assets under management, has built a track record of platform acquisitions and add-on expansion strategies across its investment portfolio. The transition to Bain Capital signals Audax's strategic redeployment of capital while reflecting the operational maturity and market attractiveness of FDH's business model.
Bain Capital brings substantial sector expertise to the acquisition. As one of the world's largest private investment firms managing approximately $225 billion in assets under management across 24 offices globally, Bain has demonstrated commitment to the aerospace and defense sector through prior investments, including ITP Aero, a global leader in advanced aerospace engine components. The FDH Aero transaction aligns with Bain's five-pillar investment strategy spanning Private Equity, Growth & Venture, Capital Solutions, Credit & Capital Markets, and Real Assets. According to transaction guidance, the investment aims to accelerate FDH's growth strategy, drive operational and customer-focused innovation, and support the company's continued market expansion.
FDH Aero represents a significant platform asset within the aerospace and defense ecosystem. The company brings more than 60 years of operational history and specializes in hardware, electrical and electronic products, and consumable products and services serving original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and aftermarket customers across commercial, defense, and space sectors. The company maintains headquarters in Commerce, California, with operational footprint across North America, Europe, and Asia, establishing it as a genuinely global supply chain solutions partner.
Audax Private Equity, which acquired FDH as a portfolio company and has held the asset through a growth phase, is facilitating the transition to Bain Capital. Audax, founded in 1999 and based in Boston with $19.5 billion in assets under management, has built a track record of platform acquisitions and add-on expansion strategies across its investment portfolio. The transition to Bain Capital signals Audax's strategic redeployment of capital while reflecting the operational maturity and market attractiveness of FDH's business model.
Bain Capital brings substantial sector expertise to the acquisition. As one of the world's largest private investment firms managing approximately $225 billion in assets under management across 24 offices globally, Bain has demonstrated commitment to the aerospace and defense sector through prior investments, including ITP Aero, a global leader in advanced aerospace engine components. The FDH Aero transaction aligns with Bain's five-pillar investment strategy spanning Private Equity, Growth & Venture, Capital Solutions, Credit & Capital Markets, and Real Assets. According to transaction guidance, the investment aims to accelerate FDH's growth strategy, drive operational and customer-focused innovation, and support the company's continued market expansion.
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