Skip Header
Important information: The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. This is a third-party news feed and may not reflect Fidelity’s views.

Cobham break-up on target with warfare simulation sale - report

(Sharecast News) - US buyout firm Advent International is close to offloading a key division of Cobham, it was reported on Friday, as it continues to break up the defence giant. According to Sky News, Advent - which acquired the British business in 2019 for £4bn - is in "detailed negotiations" to sell Ultra Electronic Warfare Simulation Technology (EWST).

Cobham acquired EWST in 2021, when it bought London-listed Ultra Electronics in a £2.6bn deal.

Citing one unnamed potential bidder, Sky said EWST was unlikely to command a significant price.

But it will contribute to Advent's wholesale break-up of the once sprawling Cobham group. Assets already sold off include the Paris-based Cobham Aerospace Communications, which was snapped up by France's Thales in 2023 for £850m.

The decision to break up the business has been criticised by politicians, who are concerned it undermines the UK's defence industry during a period of heightened geopolitical unrest, and the founding Cobham family.

However, Advent has previously stated that Cobham was a large, disparate conglomerate and was struggling.

Share this article

Related Sharecast Articles

Tesco, Sainsbury's slide as Asda says overhaul will dent profits
(Sharecast News) - UK supermarket stocks tumbled on Friday after Asda said it would undertake a "substantive" programme of investment in price, availability and the shopping experience to get the business "firing on all cylinders again" that will "materially" dent its profits.
KKR, Stonepeak bid deadline for Assura extended
(Sharecast News) - Assura said on Friday that the deadline by which investment firms KKR and Stonepeak must announce a firm offer for the group has been extended to allow the consortium more time for due diligence.
Bakkavor shares soar as £1.13bn Greencore bid rejected
(Sharecast News) - Shares in Bakkavor surged late on Friday as it emerged the food company rejected two bids from UK rival Greencore - the second worth £1.13bn.
Travis Perkins delays FY results; shares slide again
(Sharecast News) - Travis Perkins said on Friday that its results for the year to the end of December 2024 will be delayed as its auditor has requested additional time to complete standard audit procedures, sending shares in the builders' merchant tumbling for the second time this week.

Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Award-winning online share dealing

Search, compare and select from thousands of shares.

Expert insights into investing your money

Our team of experts explore the world of share dealing.