US-owned Cobham close to takeover of UK defence manufacturer Ultra

The move would further extend the private equity industry’s grip on British aerospace

Defence manufacturer Ultra Electronics is on the verge of accepting a takeover offer from rival Cobham, in a move that would further extend the private equity industry’s grip on the British aerospace sector.

Ultra said on Friday it had received a takeover bid of £35 per share from Cobham, which is owned by American private equity group Advent. The bid would value Ultra at £2.6bn, 60% higher than its valuation when Cobham first made a bid last month at the lower price of £28 per share.

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