JAKE CARTWRIGHT, PRESIDENT AND CEO, TAG AVIATION USA
Jake Cartwright's putting the word out. Watch for TAG Aviation USA to make some sort of acquisition next year.
"We've got systems, we've got people, we've got a very good business," the TAG USA president and CEO says. "We want to grow some more."
TAG USA (Booth 9111) manages a fleet of well over 100 aircraft, offers aircraft acquisition and related consulting services, and provides "TAG-On-Call" maintenance services. The company handles charters through its Part 135-certified AMI Jet Charter affiliate, which operates from TAG USA's San Francisco headquarters and has sales offices in New York, Minneapolis, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.
"We've got a really good business model and everyone copies us," Cartwright says.
TAG USA also retains a 25% stake (down from half) in Cessna's CitationShares fractional ownership program.
Will TAG go after another charter or aircraft management outfit, or an FBO firm, or other service provider? Cartwright says he doesn't yet know.
"There's no particular targets," he said on the eve of NBAA.
Cartwright did tell ShowNews that TAG USA revenues were up about 10% through the first six months of the year compared to 2003's first-half tallies, and that profitability gains are better than that.
"It's across the board," he says of the current good times. Sales are "better than ever before," and the charter business is good.
"2004 has been surprisingly strong," Cartwright says, "stronger than the economy might indicate." TAG USA has added twice as many aircraft as budgeted to its managed fleet, and Cartwright sees a definite trend toward larger aircraft, whereas two years ago the trend was opposite.
"As we look into 2005, we're very well positioned for an acquisition," he says.
