A Stake and Confidence in Aviation Distributors

Investor Kurt Butenhoff, a senior managing director of Bear Stearns & Co., reported holding a 5.6% stake in Aviation Distributors Inc. and said the company’s current market valuation “does not fully reflect the inherent value of its business.”

The investor said in a document filed Wednesday with regulators that he intends to work with the Lake Forest company to explore strategic alternatives with the “intent of realizing enhanced shareholder value” for all of Aviation Distributors’ stockholders.

Butenhoff said in the document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that he beneficially holds 187,544 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing 105,000 shares between Jan. 10 and March 13 at prices ranging from $2.56 to $3.63 a share.

The stock, which trades over the counter, was unchanged Wednesday, closing at $3.56 a share.

Aviation Distributors redistributes aircraft parts and provides inventory management services for major commercial airlines.