Safran, a French company specializing in engine and aircraft equipment, has proposed selling a business in North America to address concerns raised by the EU regarding its $1.8 billion bid for Collins Aerospace's flight controls business. The offer was submitted to the European Commission last Friday for review, with feedback being sought from competitors and customers before a decision is made to accept the proposal, request further concessions, or initiate a lengthy investigation.

The EU antitrust regulator is inquiring about potential buyers for Safran's electromechanical actuation business in North America. This unit, which includes intellectual property, operational assets, and customer agreements for horizontal stabilizer trim actuation systems, was agreed to be sold to U.S. aircraft parts manufacturer Woodward in December. However, the Commission's questionnaire did not reference Woodward in this context.

Actuators play a crucial role in converting electronic commands from the cockpit into physical movements to control various aircraft functions, such as enhancing lift during landings. When asked for comment, Safran referred to its announcement made on December 20 regarding the agreement with Woodward, projecting the deal to be finalized by mid-2025.

Stakeholders have until Thursday to provide feedback on the proposal, with the acquisition of Collins marking Safran's most significant transaction since acquiring seat manufacturer Zodiac in 2018.