Post-acquisition UK''s McAlpine Helicopters renamed Eurocopter UK

Mumbai: In line with its strategy to be a multi-local player with its own facilities in all its key markets, Eurocopter has completed the the acquisition of the remaining shares of McAlpine Helicopters Limited as of 1 November 2007, from the 10 per cent it held previously in the British company, which has now become a wholly-owned subsidiary, Eurocopter UK Limited.

"We are proud to add a company as reputable and qualified as McAlpine Helicopters to our international network of currently 17 subsidiaries," said Lutz Bertling, CEO, Eurocopter. "The British Isles are one of our major markets in Europe and worldwide. By consolidating our resources and strength with McAlpine''s proven capabilities, we will be able to further extend our service and support to our civil and military customers in the UK and Ireland. It is our strategy to be a multi-local player with a worldwide exclusive sales and customer service network mainly through fully-owned subsidiaries, of which our new Eurocopter UK Limited has now become an integral part. "

For the past 30 years, McAlpine Helicopters has achieved an exemplary performance in the distribution and support of Eurocopter products, with well over 200 helicopters sold. This success is attributable to the highly skilled workforce, its capacity to design, install, flight test and certify modifications tailored to the market requirements, and to deliver first- support for a very sizeable helicopter fleet. The company presently employs 169 staff.

Today, Eurocopter''s market share in the UK and Ireland is 73 per cent in the police and law enforcement segment, 73 per cent in the EMS market and 50 per cent in the commercial / private segment. Eurocopter fully acknowledges Kenneth McAlpine''s visionary contribution to this success and to aviation in general during his 60 years of involvement in the industry.

The expansion plan envisaged for Eurocopter UK Ltd. will aim at increasing the UK content of services, both in the civil and military markets, which in turn will provide development opportunities for its staff.

Eurocopter is confident in the ability of Eurocopter UK''s current management team and staff to continue to run the company and its future expansion, and therefore does not envisage to change the present team or the existing facilities in Oxford.

Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 14,000 people. In 2006, Eurocopter recorded a turnover of €3.8 billion in orders for 615 new helicopters, and a 52 per cent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors.

Overall, the Group''s products account for 30 per cent percent of the total world helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 17 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centres. More than 9,800 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,800 customers in 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.