By Clark Mason
The Press Democrat
SANTA ROSA, Calif. — REACH Air Medical Services, which pioneered air ambulance service in Sonoma County, on Wednesday announced a deal to acquire Idaho-based Summit Air Ambulance, expanding its reach into three more states.
It is the second acquisition in two years for the Santa Rosa company, which operates 27 bases throughout California, Oregon and Texas, with a fleet of helicopters, planes and ground ambulances. Founded in 1987 by Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital emergency room doctor John McDonald, REACH has transported more than 100,000 patients since its inception.
Summit and its affiliated companies have been providing critical care air medical services for 16 years and have transported over 7,000 patients in Nevada and Montana. Summit operates a total of eight helicopters and airplanes from six bases in Nevada and Montana, with a new base opening in La Junta, Colo., in June.
The company is owned by Texas Next Capital, a private equity partnership based in San Antonio.
“We’ve been watching Summit Air from afar grow their business the last few years and we are extremely impressed with the way they manage the company and the culture of their company — putting patients first,” said Anna Blair, vice president of business relations and development.
“We feel an alignment on multiple levels. It’s a welcome expansion of the REACH culture and REACH mission.”
REACH President Sean Russell said his company is excited to be serving communities in three more states.
“Summit has become an integral member of the critical care and emergency response system in these communities and we look forward to supporting and continuing those services,” he said in a statement. “ We have received very positive feedback from Summit customers and employees about the acquisition and have planned a transition that will smoothly enhance Summit’s service to customers and patients without interruption.”
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
REACH and its iconic red helicopters provide a key link in the chain of emergency response, particularly in rural areas, flying critically ill or injured people to hospitals.
REACH, which stands for Redwood Empire Air Care Helicopter, became part of the largest air ambulance company in the world after it was bought in late 2012 by Air Medical Group Holdings, a subsidiary of former presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s old investment firm Bain Capital. It became Air Medical’s fourth air ambulance company.
Air Medical borrowed $245 million to help finance the acquisition, according to Standard & Poor’s.
REACH Air Medical Services has about 470 employees, which will grow to about 570 with the purchase of Summit, according to Barnes.
REACH also operates Cal-Ore Life Flight, which provides critical care air and ground services to communities in California, Oregon and south Texas. Together they have 18 medically equipped helicopters, nine airplanes and nine ground ambulances.
REACH has a hanger and base at the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport and administrative offices and communications center on nearby Aviation Boulevard. In addition, REACH operates its helicopters and airplanes out of Willits, Lakeport, Concord, Stockton, Yuba City-Marysville, Redding and Rancho Cordova.
Last year REACH acquired Emergency Air Lift, which has bases in North Bend and Klamath Falls, Ore. That deal added two helicopters and one plane.
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©2015 The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.)