Airbus and Safran Sign Agreement to Purchase Tikehau's Stake in Aubert & Duval
Airbus and Safran have entered into a binding agreement to acquire Tikehau Capital's stake in Aubert & Duval, a French supplier of complex materials. Each partner will equally share the stake from the asset manager's aerospace fund.
An Agreement to Equally Share Ownership
Airbus, Safran, and Tikehau Capital have signed a binding agreement concerning the sale of Tikehau Capital’s aerospace and defense fund's stake in Aubert & Duval. Airbus and Safran will equally share this stake, with no changes to the current team organization or the operational independence of the group in relation to its customers. Aubert & Duval is a major French player in the sector. The company is among the global leaders in the design, production, and processing of complex metallic materials, including specialized steels, superalloys, titanium, and aluminum for aerospace, defense, energy, and healthcare sectors. The completion of the transaction is subject to required regulatory approvals. No financial details regarding the valuation or purchase price have been disclosed by the three parties.
A Structure Acquired in 2023 and Transformed Since
Airbus, Safran, and Tikehau Capital jointly took control of Aubert & Duval in April 2023. Since then, they have led a major phase of operational transformation and recovery, together with the management and employees. The group generates a revenue of approximately €960 million and employs about 4,400 staff across ten industrial sites, including eight in France. During this period, Aubert & Duval has strengthened its role in French and European industrial sovereignty. It actively contributes to securing the supply of critical materials and to the decarbonization of the sector, notably through its titanium recycling activities.
