Bristow Group to purchase eight new helicopters

Bristow Group a provider of helicopter services to the offshore energy industry, announced the acquisition of eight new aircraft. Bristow has exercised options to acquire two S-92 and three S-76C++ helicopters from Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and three EC225 helicopters from Eurocopter, a division of EADS. The combined value of these purchases is approximately $143 million to be funded with the proceeds of previously completed financings and future operating cash flows. Bristow maintains multi-year options to purchase additional aircraft from Sikorsky and Eurocopter as market conditions require.