Airbus and Safran have agreed to acquire Tikehau Capital’s shareholding in French aerospace materials specialist Aubert & Duval, reinforcing long-term industrial control over a company regarded as strategically important to Europe’s aerospace and defence supply chains.
Airbus and Safran strengthen ownership
Airbus, Safran and Tikehau Capital have signed a binding agreement under which Airbus and Safran will jointly acquire Tikehau Capital’s stake in Aubert & Duval. The transaction will see the two aerospace groups each acquire an equal share of the investment, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.
The move follows the consortium’s acquisition of Aubert & Duval in 2023, during which the three shareholders worked with the company’s management to implement a major operational transformation and turnaround programme.
Strategic supplier for aerospace and defence
Aubert & Duval is one of the world’s leading producers of advanced metallic materials, specialising in high-performance steels, superalloys, titanium and aluminium used in critical aerospace, defence, energy and healthcare applications.
The company also manufactures forged components and provides expertise across the full materials value chain, from alloy development to finished products. It employs approximately 4,400 people across ten industrial sites, eight of them located in France, and generates annual revenue of around €960 million.
Securing critical aerospace supply chains
The transaction reflects the strategic importance of maintaining secure supplies of advanced aerospace materials as aircraft production rates continue to increase and European manufacturers seek to strengthen industrial resilience.
According to the companies, Aubert & Duval plays a significant role in supporting French and European industrial sovereignty while helping secure the supply of critical materials required for aerospace manufacturing. The company has also expanded its contribution to lower-carbon industrial production through its titanium recycling activities.
Operations to continue independently
Airbus and Safran said the ownership change will not affect Aubert & Duval’s existing organisational structure. The company will continue to operate independently while maintaining its relationships with customers and suppliers across multiple industrial sectors.
For Europe’s aerospace industry, the agreement reinforces the long-term commitment of two of its largest manufacturers to securing strategic manufacturing capability and strengthening resilience across critical materials supply chains.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: Airbus, Safran and Tikehau Capital
