European mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity is expected to increase, according to Michael Richter, managing director and head of Lazard’s Aerospace and Defense Investment Banking Group. The M&A firm’s latest transaction was the sale of Gardner Aerospace (Hall 2B Stand E140) to China’s Shaanxi Ligeance Mineral Resources. Gardner manufactures finished machined and fabricated parts, using both hard and soft metals.
“M&A is exceptionally important to this industry,” he said. “There were $70 billion in transactions in 2016, and these are very important to the speed of growth, as compared to more organically growing companies. They gain access to the market in a quicker way than building [up their companies] and it turbocharges growth.”
This year has not started out with a bang, in M&A terms, but could improve rapidly. “It’s too early to say,” Richter said. “There have been close to $20 billion of deals announced year-to-date. On the surface it appears a bit lower than last year, but it’s premature to make a prediction. All you need is a couple of deals. For example, Rockwell Collins buying B/E Aerospace [for $8.3-billion]; a couple of large deals can tilt the scales.” Aerospace M&A interest remains strong, he added, after record-breaking years in 2015 ($90 billion) and 2016 ($70 billion). “You’re now in an unusual situation where commercial and defense sectors are hitting at the same time. They’re usually countercyclical. That [defense] market is really coming back to life."
Here at the Paris Air Show, Richter is meeting aerospace and defense executives to explore opportunities. “It’s an efficient way to meet with 30 to 40 companies,” he said, “and an opportunity for buyers and sellers to get together and explore tie-ups, deals and investments. From a dealmaker’s perspective it’s an ideal chance to plant seedlings. I wouldn’t say deals are consummated, but a lot of seeds are placed, which then can be cultivated in the year following an airshow.”