Latecoere, a leading partner of major international aircraft manufacturers, announced the acquisition of Technical Airborne Components (TAC) based in Belgium (Liege) from Searchlight Capital Partners. The investment firm bought TAC from TransDigm Group Incorporated in April this year. As announced during the capital increase, Latecoere is implementing its external growth strategy.

TAC is one of the main European players in the connecting rod market for the aeronautical industry. With a turnover of around 25 M € and nearly 150 employees, TAC supplies parts for commercial aircraft, regional and business jets, helicopters, as well as for several military and space programs. It thus has an attractive portfolio of customers, reinforced by long-term contracts, and access to rapidly growing programs such as the A320.

Thierry Mootz, Managing Director of Latecoere, declared: "I am happy that Technical Airborne Components is joining Latecoere today. TAC designs the vast majority of its products and operates on a wide range of materials. This great industrial expertise and in-depth knowledge of the sector and the players that make it up are an opportunity for our Group. We are thus strengthening our activities and our skills in aerostructures, we are consolidating our position in a very competitive market and at the same time reaffirming our desire to take part in the major transformations of the aeronautics industry. "

Dirk Dhooge, President of TAC, adds : "The acquisition of TAC by Latecoere is good news for the whole team. We are very happy to join Latecoere, a leading aeronautical equipment supplier recognised around the world. For us, this is an exciting new adventure that will allow us, in close collaboration with Latecoere, to expand our activities and take part in new projects, by relying on its industrial and operational expertise. Latecoere's presence across the Atlantic is also a tremendous growth accelerator for us. This is an important step to better serve our current and future customers."