Airbus in talks for potential sales, JVs of noncore border security, defense electronics units
Airbus [PA:AIR], the French aerospace conglomerate, is sounding out companies that could become partners for noncore defense and security assets, according to a newswire report.
Following the announcement earlier this month that Airbus planned to sell communications, software and sonar operations that have EUR 2bn in revenues, CEO Tom Enders told Reuters that another group of defense electronics and border security assets is not a "core business".
He declined to say whether a disposal or joint venture was preferred, as that would depend on whether interested parties wanted to make a full acquisition or some kind of majority or minority partnership. Airbus has no timeframe for the assets, he added on the sidelines of an event about first flight of the A320neo aircraft.
The aircraft is in line with Airbus' decision following the portfolio review to focus on operations like warplanes and satellites and away from defense electronics and security.