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Jamco, a Japanese airline cabin manufacturer owned by Bain, targets acquisitions of premium seats

Executives at the company said that under Bain Capital's new ownership, Japanese aircraft interiors maker Jamco Corporation wants to take advantage of a global shortage in new plane seats.

The U.S. private-equity firm that bought Jamco for $700m this year also plans to make acquisitions worldwide, including premium cabin products for Airbus and Boeing widebody aircraft, which it supplies.

As commercial aviation recovered from the pandemic, suppliers such as Jamco, who make galleys and lavatories primarily for twin-aisle aircraft, faced shortages of parts, labour and costs.

Nick Gattas is a managing Director in Bain’s Asia Pacific Private Equity team.

Gattas said that Bain sees potential to integrate Japanese suppliers into Jamco further down the supply chains.

Jamco delisted from Tokyo Stock Exchange on July. Bain's acquisition of the company is expected to close fully in September. ANA Holdings, Itochu and ANA Holdings were Jamco's largest shareholders.

The company also announced on Tuesday a new management team, headed by Kate Schaefer. She is currently a senior advisor at Bain Capital, and was previously a senior vice president of Boeing Global Services.

Jamco is interested in premium seats at a time when planemakers struggle to produce airliners quickly enough to meet the demand. The delays in installing new seats is a major bottleneck that has many airlines impatiently waiting for new jets.

Bain wants Jamco to resume selling business class seats in 2023, after the company stopped accepting new orders due to high demand.

Schaefer stated that the interest shown by airlines was overwhelming.

Bain sees an opportunity with the growing need for airlines to upgrade their ageing aircraft that they are unable to retire because of a global jet shortage.

We see billions being spent retrofitting planes 10 years or older with first class, premium economy and business class. Gattas stated that this is a great opportunity for companies like Jamco.

The global trade war has affected the aerospace industry, causing decades of duty-free civil aircraft trading to be thrown into disarray.

Last month, the United States and Japan agreed to a trade agreement that imposed a 15% tariff for exports of Japan into the United States.

Gattas stated that Jamco products going to Boeing will be subject to a tariff. As Boeing exports many aircraft, they are eligible for duty drawbacks. This is a mechanism that allows duties paid on imported products to be refunded when those goods are exported.

Gattas stated that the issue of who should be responsible for the tariffs' impact on the U.S. airline industry is "currently a hot topic" of discussion among Boeing suppliers.

Bain is involved in a number aviation investments. Virgin Australia, for example, was rescued from administration by the private equity company in 2020. (Reporting and editing by Lisa Barrington, Miyoung Kim, and Jamie Freed).

(source: Reuters)