EADS Socata sells its German subsidiary to a British-German joint-venture
Le Bourget, le 27 janvier 2003
EADS Socata has completed the sale of its German subsidiary to a British/German Joint Venture formed by Air Touring Ltd. from UK and Rheinland Air Service from Mönchengladbach, Germany. Socata GmbH, based in Siegerland, 50 miles north of Frankfurt, is primarily the sales & marketing center for EADS Socata in Germany and Austria, as well as the product support and maintenance center, parts distributor, repair station and avionics workshop, authorized for Socata aircraft as well as other type of aircraft. Born as independent sales organization under the name Rallye Deutschland, the company was purchased by Socata in the eighties. Socata GmbH has currently a staff of 20 employees. Air Touring Ltd is a long-time and successful Socata distributor, established at Biggin Hill Airport, southeast of London. Rheinland Air Service, is a fixed-based operator on the Mönchengladbach airport near Dusseldorf. The new joint managing directors of Socata GmbH are Michael Pearce, president of Air Touring Ltd and Johannes Graf von Schaesberg, CEO of Rheinland Air Service.
« The acquisition of Socata GmbH offers synergy in the procurement and distribution of aircraft as well as greater market presence having the distribution rights for Austria and Germany as well as the UK and Ireland.» commented Michael Pearce.
« The operation of a German subsidiary was no longer matching our current marketing strategy which to rely on a strong network of distributors, who have a better knowledge of their home market. Under this new organization we have achieved significant sales results, especially in the United States of America. So we decided last year to accept the offer from Michael Pearce and Johannes Graf von Schaesberg. We are confident that Socata GmbH is in good hands with them and the new organization will maintain the high-level of customer care on the German and Austrian markets achieved by our subsidiary. » said Philippe Debrun, CEO of EADS Socata.
EADS Socata is the leading European General Aviation manufacturer. Its headquarters is at Paris Le Bourget Airport and its industrial facilities are at Tarbes-Lourdes-Airport in the Southwest of France. Around 5,800 Socata aircraft are in service today. TB GT range and TBM700 products have set the highest standards in terms of quality, performance and comfort.
EADS Socata is wholly-owned subsidiary of EADS is a global aerospace and defence company, and is the world’s second largest in terms of revenues, having achieved EUR30.8 billion in 2001. EADS maintains a workforce of more than 100,000 and is a market leader in defense technologies, commercial aircraft, helicopters, space, military transport and combat aircraft, as well as related services. Its family of leading brands includes the commercial aircraft maker Airbus; Eurocopter, the world's largest helicopter manufacturer; Astrium, the space company and MBDA, the world's second largest missile company. EADS is also the biggest partner in the Eurofighter consortium and heads the A400M military transport aircraft program. EADS has more than 70 facilities in France, Germany, Spain and the UK. It is active in markets around the world, including the USA and in Asia.
Philippe de Segovia
EADS SOCATA
Tel:+33 (0)1 49 34 69 93
Fax:+33(0)1 49 34 69 96
philippe.de-segovia@socata.eads.net
