CUSTOMER PLATFORM

April 29, 2021

City+Ventures and Mente Group Partner to Create Aquila Aviation Ventures Investment Group

City+Ventures and Mente Group Partner to Create Aquila Aviation Ventures Investment Group

CV and Aquila_news release_04.28.2021_For Release

 

City+Ventures and Mente Group Partner to Create Aquila Aviation Ventures Investment Group

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OMAHA, Neb. (April 28, 2021) – Danny White, the co-founder of Omaha’s City+Ventures, and Brian Proctor, president and CEO of Mente Group, headquartered in Dallas, have partnered to create Aquila Aviation Ventures LLC, a new investment group formed to serve unmet industry needs and leverage resources across entities to scale for future growth.

Aquila Aviation Ventures consists of Millbrook Air, a City+Ventures aircraft management company and charter operator based at Stewart International Airport in New York, and Mente Group, a full-service aviation consulting business and aircraft brokerage service. Both companies operate as standalone platforms and will shift to be under the leadership of Proctor, who becomes Aquila Aviation Ventures’ Chief Executive Officer.

“City+Ventures’ expertise identifying growth opportunities focused on exceptional customer experiences, along with Millbrook Air and its fleet of business jets are a perfect combination with Brian Proctor’s aviation expertise to propel Aquila Aviation Ventures to new heights in private aviation,” said Danny White, City+Ventures co-founder.

“Aquila Aviation Ventures will identify and invest in high-growth firms within the private aviation sector,” said Brian Proctor, chief executive officer of Aquila. “And as part of the partnership, Mente Group has been recapitalized, providing it with growth capital to expand its platform and provide new and innovative services. The Millbrook operation will serve as a launch point for new products and concepts, taking advantage of unfulfilled segments in aviation.”

 

About City+Ventures

City+Ventures is a premier development and investment company focused on building companies and communities. With Omaha roots, but regional and national assets, City+Ventures owns and operates a wide array of businesses, including automotive dealerships; carwashes; private jet management and charter company; real estate management; and construction-related businesses, in addition to holding a real estate portfolio. In August 2020, City+Ventures’ proven track record of reinvention and financial success earned it the No. 71 spot on the Inc. 5000 Company list. For more information, visit https://city-ventures.com/.

 

About Aquila Aviation Ventures LLC

Aquila Aviation Ventures is an investment company formed to serve unmet industry needs and leverage resources across entities to scale for future growth. The company identifies and invests in high-growth firms within the business aviation sector. The company holds Millbrook Air, a charter and aircraft management company, and Mente Group. Aquila recently invested in Mente Group, which has permitted it to recapitalize in order to expand its platform and fund high-quality products. 

 

About Millbrook Air

Millbrook Aviation, an aircraft management and charter company headquartered at Stewart International Airport in New York, operates a fleet of Cessna Citation, Embraer Phenom, Bombardier Challenger, and Gulfstream business jets. An ARGUS Platinum Operator, Millbrook Air supports a diverse fleet based throughout the United States and operating around the world. For more information, visit www.millbrookair.com. 

 

About Mente Group

Mente Group, an aviation advisory, and brokerage firm offers a comprehensive array of aviation consulting services including fleet planning, buying and selling of new and pre-owned aircraft, appraisals and residual value forecasting, flight department startups, completion and refurbishment, audits and operational alignment, and Mente 360, a scalable, reliable and cost-effective corporate aviation asset advisory program. With offices in Dallas, Boston, Chicago, and Portland, Mente Group professionals have handled more than $10.5 billion in aircraft transactions, compiled more than 60 years of aviation experience, and executed more than 500 business jet deliveries. Mente Group is a member of International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA), National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA). For more information, visit https://mentegroup.com.

 

Media Contacts 

City+Ventures

Calli Hite; 402-677-5387                      [email protected]

Aquila / Mente

Jim Gregory; 316-558-8578                [email protected]

James Gregory Consultancy LLC

TESTIMONIALS

plane

Mente Group is an industry leading company that provides an aircraft valuation program that is essential for flight departments to know and understand the fair market value of their aircraft. This program allows for customization of depreciation curves, aircraft detail and comparisons, valuation of the optional equipment installed, and updating the current flight times to have the most complete fair market value of your aircraft on a monthly basis. Mente Group also has a licensed Aircraft Appraiser on staff to provide annual aircraft appraisals for property tax valuations. We have saved significant sums of money on property taxes every year. Finally, Mente Group provides outstanding brokerage services and analysis of the flight department needs in terms of aircraft and personnel required based on company’s travel requirements.

-Manager of Aircraft Maintenance – Fortune 500 company

It was not just the very professional way that Mente Group handled the disposition of our current aircraft and the acquisition of the new aircraft that sets them apart. They provided us with an extraordinarily detailed analysis that helped clarify our decision. They also provided completion insight that I don’t believe anyone else in the industry has resident in their firm. Finally, they helped our treasury department mitigate a tax issue on our existing airplane with the assistance of their asset advisory team. I simply don’t know of any other firm that has the breadth of knowledge that Mente Group has.

-Vice President of Flight Operations

It has been great working with Mente Group.  As always, they expertly handled the relationship piece and kept us in the loop so we could keep our principal informed and calm. I assumed from the beginning that Mente would be a good fit, primarily because I personally know most of the team quite well.  That confidence was validated every step of the way.

-Retired Aviation Industry Executive

I would highly recommend Mente group in both the sales and acquisition of an aircraft.  They took the time to clearly understand my needs, provide competitive information, assist in the negotiation process, and complete both a sales and acquisition process. Their follow up and communication was exceptional throughout the process and second to none.  There is only one place I would turn for help in my next acquisition.

-CEO

I meant it when I said what a pleasure it was to work with professionals for a change.  It was refreshing to deal with calm, rational people who worked towards mutually beneficial solutions.

-Vice President – Aviation Lender

I wanted to thank you for the terrific job Mente did helping us acquire our new G450. This being our first aircraft we had no clue where to start or how to avoid the pitfalls in the marketplace. Mente took us by the hand and led us through the process with tremendous patience. For us, Mente’s most valuable asset is your ability to read and react to market conditions quickly to provide strategic guidance. We got much more airplane than we dreamed possible by listening to your counsel.

Thanks again for a great experience!

– Director of Marketing and Public Relations