Safran / Collins merger inquiry
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-02)

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigated the anticipated acquisition by Safran S.A. of a part of Collins Aerospace’s (a business unit of RTX Corporation) actuation and flight control business.

Statutory timetable

Phase 1

Case closure

2 September 2025: The sale of the Divestment Business subject to the undertakings in lieu to Woodward, Inc. was approved by the CMA and completed on 21 July 2025. This brings the merger investigation to an end.

Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted

17 June 2025: The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference for the anticipated acquisition by Safran S.A. of a part of Collins Aerospace’s (a business unit of RTX Corporation) actuation and flight control business.
- Full text decision (PDF, 234KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685903985225e4ed0bf3cec6/Safran-Collins_-_Decision_on_acceptance_of_undertakings_in_lieu_of_reference.pdf) (23.6.25)
- Final undertakings (PDF, 284KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6850fa1a29fb1002010c4eda/safran-collins-final-undertakings.pdf) (17.6.25)
Extension of consideration of undertakings in lieu

11 June 2025: The CMA has extended the consideration of undertakings in lieu of reference until 11 August 2025.
- Notice of extension (PDF, 110KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6847fa1d96e63bce58e4e67a/Notice_of_extension.pdf) (11.6.25)
Consultation of undertakings in lieu of reference: closed

9 April 2025: The CMA is consulting on proposed undertakings in lieu of reference to a phase 2 investigation for the anticipated acquisition by Safran of a part of Collins Aerospace’s actuation and flight control business. The consultation period closed on 24 April 2025.

Notice of consultation on undertakings in lieu (PDF, 202KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67f63fdc555773bbf109e1ce/Notice_of_consultation_on_undertakings_in_lieu.pdf) (9.4.25)

Proposed undertakings (PDF, 277KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67f63ff3e3c60873d6c90d8d/1._Proposed_undertakings.pdf) (9.4.25)

CMA to consider undertakings offered

4 April 2025: Safran has offered undertakings in lieu of a reference to the CMA, which involve the divestment of certain assets. The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by Safran or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002.

Decision that undertakings might be accepted (PDF, 193KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67f6400cb7e44efc70acc3b8/Decision_that_undertakings_might_be_accepted.pdf) (9.4.25)

Press release: CMA believes remedies offer in Safran / Collins may address competition concerns (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-believes-remedies-offer-in-safran-collins-may-address-competition-concerns) (4.4.25)

Reference unless undertakings accepted

28 March 2025: The CMA has decided, on the evidence currently available to it, that it is or may be the case that this merger may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom. This merger will be referred for an in-depth, phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer an acceptable undertaking to address these competition concerns.

Full text decision (PDF, 312KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67f6402fe3c60873d6c90d8e/Full_text_decision.pdf) (9.4.25)

Summary of Phase 1 decision (PDF, 117KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67ebf7869eae202448299b18/Summary_of_decision_2025.pdf) (28.3.25)

Launch of merger inquiry

18 February 2025: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.
- Commencement notice (PDF, 90KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67b422b6d15c152ea555be88/Commencement_notice.pdf) (18.2.25)
Invitation to comment: closed

18 February 2025: The CMA is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.

To assist it with this assessment, the CMA invites comments on the transaction from any interested party.

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition or public interest to: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Your name and contact details are your personal data. In collecting, receiving, storing, accessing and using your personal data, the CMA, as controller, is processing your personal data. The CMA processes personal data in accordance with data protection law. The CMA is processing your personal data so that it can contact you again, should it need further help or information from you, in order to carry out its merger work under Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002. For more information about how the CMA processes personal data and your rights relating to that data, please see our Privacy Notice (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/competition-and-markets-authority/about/personal-information-charter).