• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Excelitas Qioptiq banner

BATTLESPACE Updates

   +44 (0)77689 54766
   

  • Home
  • Features
  • News Updates
  • Company Directory
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media Pack 2022

LAGARDERE’S DILEMMA

March 19, 2004 by

10 Mar 04. Paul Betts of the FT reported on the fact that the temptation must be great for Arnaud Lagardère: to shed his core shareholding in the EADS defence and aeronautics group to transform his company into one of the world’s top three media groups. We reported on this situation last year in BATTLESPACE UPDATE

Since his father’s death last year, Lagardère junior has made no secret of his ambition to become France’s new media champion. This week he again said he would consider disposing of his EADS stake once the new Airbus A380 superjumbo, his father’s pet project, is delivered in 2006. That, and the likely disengagement of the other core shareholder, DaimlerChrysler, which wants to focus on cars, is beginning to exercise the collective minds of Paris, Berlin, and London. It would open fresh possibilities in pan-European industrial collaboration. Some are suggesting that replacing Lagardère and Daimler with BAE and Thales would create a dream team for EADS and Airbus.

But would it really be wise for Lagardère to give up on EADS just as the group is becoming increasingly bullish on its prospects? Lagardère shareholders would probably enjoy a smoother ride on board the A380 than on French airwaves.

Comment: On a number of occasions we have discussed the inclusion of Thales into EADS, depending on European rules requiring disposal of some of its avionics businesses and the formation of a super European operation. The delay in the formation of the EUROSYSTEMS enterprise between BAE and Finmeccanica may be explained by this statement. The current structure suggested above does not include Finmeccania’s EUROSYSTEMS segment which may have to be included to make this work. If such a deal did happen it would cut down on Europe’s ability to compete major C4I programmes from within and require Europe to allow the U.S. to strengthen its European presence as a counterweight to this leviathan. The strength of U.S. technology and business as outlined by yesterday’s Alvis/GD deal may result in further U.S. penetration of the European market.

Primary Sidebar

Advertisers

  • qioptiq.com
  • Exensor
  • TCI
  • Visit the Oxley website
  • Visit the Viasat website
  • Blighter
  • SPECTRA
  • InVeris
  • Britbots logo
  • Faun Trackway
  • Systematic
  • CISION logo
  • ProTEK logo
  • businesswire logo
  • ProTEK logo
  • ssafa logo
  • DSEi
  • Atkins
  • IEE
  • EXFOR logo
  • KME logo
Hilux DVD2022

Contact Us

BATTLESPACE Publications
Old Charlock
Abthorpe Road
Silverstone
Towcester NN12 8TW

+44 (0)77689 54766

BATTLESPACE Technologies

An international defence electronics news service providing our readers with up to date developments in the defence electronics industry.

Recent News

  • EXHIBITIONS AND CONFERENCES

    May 20, 2022
    Read more
  • MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE

    May 20, 2022
    Read more
  • CONTRACT NEWS IN BRIEF

    May 20, 2022
    Read more

Copyright BATTLESPACE Publications © 2002–2022.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you continue to use the website, we'll assume you're ok with this.   Read More  Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT