Sonaca, Aciturri Aerostructures to become single European aviation entity

On Dec. 13, Aciturri (Mirando de Ebro, Spain) announced that it has reached an agreement with Sonaca (Charleroi, Belgium) for the latter to acquire 51% of Aciturri’s aerostructures activities, with the support of the Belgian firm’s historic shareholders, Wallonie Entreprendre and SFPIM. Through this union, the two companies aim to lead the global aerospace industry’s design of next-gen aircraft. To build this European champion, both Spanish and Belgian shareholders will remain active in the governance of the combined entity.

Aciturri is a family-owned business created in 1977 in Spain. It primarily operates in the aerostructures field but also has an aeronautical engine parts division. Aciturri’s aerostructures business has nearly 2,500 employees and expects a turnover of €400 million euros in 2024. The company is widely recognized for its expertise, especially in the manufacturing of composite aerostructures, which are essential to the development of new, more eco-friendly aircraft.

Aciturri’s engine components business, the Caetano Aeronautic plant in Portugal and Aciturri Tech, are outside the scope of the acquisition.

Sonaca, with an expected turnover of €700 million in 2024, globally develops, certifies and manufactures aircraft structures and system integration. With a presence in six countries and 3,700 employees, Sonaca serves major OEMs with competences that extend over the civil aerospace, defense and space markets.

“The internationalization of Aciturri Aerostructures is an important and necessary step to secure our business activities,” Ginés Clemente, executive chairman and founder of Aciturri, says. “Sonaca’s business areas and its customer base will provide new opportunities for growth for our company and for our entire team.”

The announced integration is, above all, an industrial partnership. Sonaca’s expertise in the manufacture of metal structures, and Aciturri’s in composite structures, together will form a group of approximately 6,200 employees across seven countries, with a turnover of more than €1.1 billion in 2024.  Together, Sonaca and Aciturri will reportedly become the third independent global player (excluding the subsidiaries of major prime contractors like aircraft and engine manufacturers).

In a sector that is stepping up R&D efforts to create low-carbon air transport solutions, the combination of Aciturri and Sonaca will enable the acceleration of some of these research programs to contribute to the development of a low-carbon aircraft by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, ambitious objectives set by the entire aeronautics sector globally.

“In the face of the aerostructure sector’s global consolidation, Sonaca and Aciturri are joining forces to play a leading role globally,” emphasizes Yves Delatte, CEO of Sonaca. “Only by coming together will we enable Europe to retain a leading position in the design and production of future sustainable aircraft.”

Upon completion of the transaction, both parties will work on the details of the integration. The combination of Sonaca and Aciturri Aerostructures will be grounded in ensuring the continuity of business activities at all current locations and maintaining management teams in each country.