MECAER AVIATION GROUP acquired by PAI PARTNERS

Nexteam completed a shareholder reorganization following a competitive process led by Crédit Agricole CIB and Indosuez Corporate Advisory. As part of the transaction, a consortium comprising EMZ Partners, Bpifrance and Amundi Private Equity Funds acquired a minority stake in the company to support its next phase of growth. The new investors succeed Tikehau Capital, which had been a minority shareholder since 2018, while management, led by Ludovic Asquini and Christophe Maury, increased its ownership and retained control of the business through the backing of the long-standing “Friends of Nexteam” shareholder group. The process attracted significant interest from both financial sponsors and strategic investors, including parties considering potential consolidation opportunities within the aerospace supply chain. Following the auction, Nexteam selected a partnership structure allowing management to preserve its independence while securing additional resources to execute its long-term growth strategy. The selection of EMZ, a specialist in flexible capital solutions, reflected management’s preference for investors capable of supporting future expansion while maintaining the company’s existing governance framework. The transaction marks a new stage in Nexteam’s development, providing additional support for organic growth initiatives, international expansion and future acquisition opportunities.

Abenex has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Tethys, a French specialist in pyromechanical systems, through its second small-cap fund. This transaction represents a secondary leveraged buyout, facilitating a complete exit for the previous majority shareholders, which included a group of business angels operating as a search fund and Bpifrance's Definvest fund. The deal was the outcome of a competitive six-month auction process, primarily targeting financial sponsors, which saw Abenex emerge as the successful bidder against other private equity firms. The existing management team, led by President Philippe Saussol, has demonstrated strong confidence in the company's future by reinvesting significantly in the new structure. Bpifrance is also participating in the new chapter by reinvesting through a regional vehicle and its dedicated defense-focused retail fund. The strategic rationale for the acquisition is to accelerate Tethys’s growth trajectory, with the goal of substantially increasing its size over the next five years. Abenex plans to support this expansion by strengthening the commercial team, expanding production facilities, and pursuing a targeted buy-and-build strategy to establish Tethys as an independent European leader in its niche. The investment is underpinned by favorable market dynamics, including rising investment in the defense, space, and critical energy infrastructure sectors.

Global alternative asset manager H.I.G. Capital has finalized, through one of its specialized affiliates, the total acquisition of International Aerospace Coatings (IAC). This primary M&A transaction represents a strategic exit for the private equity sponsor Tiger Infrastructure Partners, which previously held a controlling interest in the aviation services company. The strategic rationale behind the acquisition is rooted in accelerating the international expansion of International Aerospace Coatings to capture expanding market demand for critical fleet finishing solutions. By utilizing the extensive resources and operational expertise of H.I.G. Capital, the current executive management team intends to grow its physical footprint, fund the construction of additional wide-body hangar capacity, and aggressively pursue selective add-on acquisitions to capture additional market share across the transatlantic aviation corridor. In terms of transactional execution, H.I.G. Capital was advised by RBC Capital Markets, LLC as financial counsel, with Ropes & Gray LLP acting as legal advisor. On the sell-side, financial advisory services were led by Jefferies LLC, while Latham & Watkins LLP provided legal counsel to both Tiger Infrastructure Partners and the target company to secure the closing.

The consortium led by Tinicum and Blackstone has reached a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the share capital of Senior plc, a prominent UK-listed engineering group. This strategic transaction represents the conclusion of a competitive bidding process, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing trend of international buyers targeting specialized UK industrial assets. The strategic rationale for the move centers on the acquirers' objective to consolidate their presence in the high-growth aerospace and defense sectors, specifically by creating a scaled technical platform. By taking the entity private, the consortium aims to provide the operational flexibility required to pursue long-term strategic initiatives outside the constraints of the public markets. The partnership is designed to leverage the acquirers' extensive experience in the industrial sector to accelerate the target’s growth prospects and technical development. A key component of the post-acquisition strategy involves combining the organization with a previously acquired aerospace platform to enhance scale and global reach. This integration reinforces the group’s standing as a primary provider of mission-critical components, providing the strategic depth required to address increasing defense budgets and the recovery of the civil aerospace market.

The investment consortium led by a French industrial-focused sponsor has successfully finalized a Management Buy-In (MBI) of the target, marking the end of over a century of family ownership. This strategic transaction represents a pivotal step in the manufacturer’s evolution, transitioning the firm from a family-held enterprise into a consolidated paneuropean platform named International Protective Equipment (IPE). The strategic rationale for the move centers on the urgent requirement for European industrial autonomy in the defense sector and the target’s unique position as an integrated, patent-protected provider of high-end personal protective equipment. By incorporating a seasoned industry leader as the new Director alongside the existing management team, the organization reinforces its ability to execute an aggressive build-up strategy across the European continent. The partnership is designed to leverage the acquirer’s financial depth to professionalize operations and accelerate research and development in ballistics and CBRN technologies. This integration facilitates the scaling of technical operational depth, providing the strategic resources required to navigate the increasing demand for high-volume, sovereign defense production. The move solidifies the group’s standing as a primary enabler of paneuropean security infrastructure and technological modernization.

Rheinmetall has finalized the acquisition of 100% of NVL (Naval Vessels Lürssen) from the Lürssen Group, which will now focus exclusively on the luxury yacht market. The transaction, agreed upon in September 2025, received final antitrust clearance in early 2026. The strategic rationale is to transform Rheinmetall into a naval powerhouse, aiming to grow NVL’s revenue from €1.3 billion to €5 billion by 2030. This acquisition ends Rheinmetall's status as a mere supplier to the maritime industry, allowing it to sell complete, armed warships. A key focus will be the integration of naval munitions and rocket motor production within NVL’s infrastructure to resolve current supply chain bottlenecks for naval missiles. This move effectively consolidates the German naval landscape, positioning Rheinmetall as a formidable competitor to TKMS and Naval Group.

Groupe RIVOLIER completed the acquisition of THIFAN INDUSTRIE to integrate specialized ammunition manufacturing capabilities and secure key ballistic intellectual property. This transaction allows the buyer to become the owner of the renowned Sauvestre brand and its associated BFS and FIP technologies, which are considered industry standards for hunting projectiles. The rationale for the deal is rooted in the buyer's broader industrial strategy to reinforce its "Made in France" positioning and contribute to national sovereignty by internalizing the production of critical components within the shooting and defense supply chain. Following previous acquisitions of firearms manufacturers and cartridge producers, this deal completes the group's technical offering, enabling it to provide a fully integrated solution of weapons and high-performance ammunition. The buyer intends to support the target's international growth while maintaining the high-quality standards established at the Saint-Doulchard production site.

Rocket Lab has finalized the acquisition of a 100% stake in Mynaric AG, a move that significantly strengthens its position in the integrated space systems market. This strategic transaction represents the group’s first major industrial footprint in Europe, with the target maintaining its operational headquarters in Munich. The strategic rationale for the acquisition centers on the vertical integration of high-speed optical communication technology, which is increasingly becoming a critical bottleneck in the deployment of large-scale satellite constellations. By absorbing this specialized technical capability, the group secures its supply chain for ongoing billion-dollar contracts with governmental agencies and commercial operators. The partnership is designed to apply the group's proven industrialization methodologies to the target’s manufacturing processes, transitioning from artisanal production to high-volume output. Furthermore, the integration allows for the seamless inclusion of laser terminals into the group's existing satellite bus platforms, providing a competitive end-to-end solution for secure, high-bandwidth data transmission in orbit. This transaction consolidates the group’s vision of becoming a primary provider of entire orbital ecosystems.

Leonardo has completed the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of IDV Group S.r.l. from the Iveco Group. The acquisition is a cornerstone of Leonardo's strategy to establish itself as a dominant European leader in land defense by integrating IDV’s world-class vehicle platforms with Leonardo’s electronics, turrets, and software suites. The strategic rationale focuses on creating a national and European champion capable of delivering fully integrated tracked and wheeled platforms. By absorbing its long-term partner in the CIO consortium, Leonardo removes internal friction and accelerates the joint development of next-generation armored vehicles. The deal also leverages complementary global sales networks and a workforce of 2,000 specialists. This integration is expected to drive significant operational synergies in logistics, manufacturing, and R&D, positioning Leonardo to capture a larger share of the expanding European land defense budgets.

The sale of the aerospace division marks the culmination of a strategic review initiated by TriMas Corporation to simplify its historical "mini-conglomerate" structure. This move was heavily influenced by activist shareholder Barington Capital, which advocated for a definitive separation of the packaging and aerospace businesses to eliminate the valuation discount associated with diversified industrials. The rationale centers on a "portfolio-purification" play, allowing the seller to reallocate capital toward life sciences and high-growth consumer packaging segments. For the buyers, the maneuver consolidates a fragmented market of specialized fasteners and machined parts. By merging the target with the existing PennAero platform, the sponsors are creating a formidable independent player capable of providing a broader suite of structural solutions to global OEMs. This structural alignment provides the organization with the institutional capital and autonomy required to navigate the cyclicality of the aerospace sector while investing in advanced composite and alloy manufacturing.