France and Germany have direct and indirect stakes in EADS,
the parent company of Airbus, and Britain has a stake in BAE. German officials
have expressed skepticism about the ratio of the ownership split between the two
companies, and there are concerns over the role the governments would play operationally
in the combined company.
{mosads}On Thursday, German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere said
that the Oct. 10 deadline under British takeover rules might need
to be extended.
While the $45 billion merger, which would make BAE and EADS
the world’s largest defense and aerospace company, is currently focused on the European
issues, the United States would also play a role because of access to the
U.S. security market that BAE wants to maintain.