EADS Said to Explore BAE Combination in Aerospace Revamp
European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co., the parent of Airbus SAS, is in negotiations with BAE Systems Plc (BA/) about a combination of the two companies, people familiar with the talks said.
The talks are at an advanced stage and the two companies are exploring a transaction that would allow London-based BAE to maintain its independence to sell into the U.S. defense market, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. A final deal hasn’t been reached, and an agreement may still fall through, the people said.
EADS Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders said today at the Berlin air show that he had no comment. BAE spokespeople declined to comment.
Combining the two companies would create a European counterweight to U.S. aerospace companies including Boeing Co. (BA), Airbus’s main competitor in civil aviation.