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DAE ends tie-up talks with BBA Aviation

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, or DAE, owner of US-based engine repair and maintenance business StandardAero, said on Sunday it was no longer in talks with British aircraft services firm BBA Aviation to merge parts of its business.

The two firms had said in late August that they had started talks to merge some of their assets, after media reports said that BBA was looking at a $4.2 billion tie-up with Arizona-based StandardAero.

“Dubai Aerospace Enterprise announced today it is no longer in discussions with BBA Aviation about a potential combination of certain parts of its business,” DAE said.

DAE, which specialises in aircraft maintenance and leasing, gave no further details on why the discussions had ended. A source with direct knowledge of the matter said there was no formal sale process in place yet for StandardAero.

“BBA had made a preliminary approach and discussions were at an early stage. Obviously the asset is for sale but the price has to be right for both the parties,” said the source. After ordering more than 200 aircraft during an industry boom in 2007, DAE’s leasing unit has been forced to cancel orders. In 2011, it cancelled outstanding Airbus orders worth $5.8 billion and also cancelled orders for 35 Boeing 737s. The Dubai-based firm put StandardAero up for sale in 2010 and retained Deutsche Bank to advise on the sale, Reuters reported at the time. However, the process moved slowly.

“As of now there are no banks or advisors assisting on a sale for StandardAero. The sale discussions have not reached a material stage with any party for that to happen,” the source added.