Cobham, the Wimborne based aerospace and defence has agreed to be bought by US private equity firm Advent International in a £4bn deal.
Cobham employs 2,000 people in the UK and 10,000 people globally operating in more than 100 countries.
Founded as Flight Refuelling Ltd in 1934 by Sir Alan Cobham, a pilot in the first world war Cobham’s technology made air refuelling widespread and enabling RAF planes the range they needed to complete missions in the 1982 Falklands war.
Cobham has said that Advent would invest in the business to help it grow.
David Lockwood, Cobham’s chief executive, said: “We have worked intensively over the last two and half years to focus on our customers and our financial and operating performance.
“This offer reflects the potential for future growth and improving performance, and is an endorsement of our turnaround strategy and our hard working people.”
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