The dream of lightweight construction that continues to drive the fantasy of mobility markets is inspiring a wave of M&As in the composites sector. On the heels of Solvay’s recent announcement of plans to acquire composites and prepreg group Cytec for USD 5.5 bn – see Plasteurope.com of 04.08.2015 – technology group GKN (Redditch / UK; www.gkn.com) has unveiled a smaller but nevertheless significant move. It plans to acquire specialist Tier 1 aerospace supplier Fokker Technologies (Papendrecht / The Netherlands; www.fokker.com) for EUR 706m, including debt, from private equity group Arle Capital.

GKN said Fokker is “an excellent strategic and cultural fit.” In addition to building entire aircrafts, the Dutch company, which employs 4,900 people, supplies most of the other manufacturers, including market leaders Airbus and Boeing. Lightweight structural components account for more than 50% of sales, electrical wiring systems for 21% and landing gear assemblies as well as component, replacement part and engineering services for 26%. In 2014, Fokker reported sales of EUR 758m and operational EBIT of EUR 53m.

GKN, with a workforce of more than 50,000 people in 30 countries, has four divisions: Aerospace, Driveline, Powder Metallurgy and Land Systems. The group last reported sales of GBP 7.5 bn (about EUR 10 bn).