European missile builder MBDA has finally become a legal entity merging Matra BAe Dynamics, Aerospatiale Matra Missiles and the Missile division of Alenia Marconi Systems. The company is owned by BAE Systems and EADS (each with 37.5%), and Finmeccanica (25%). The merger has been approved by the national governments involved, although there remains a question mark over whether the European Commission may seek to open its own investigations - although intervening in a merger of defence activities would be unprecedented.
Source: Flight International