FOKKER, the ailing Dutch aircraft maker, said yesterday it had attracted interest from "about" five companies around the world. However, it was not yet clear whether any aircraft maker would be prepared to buy the company in anything like its current form.
East Asian aerospace companies are reported to be interested in Fokker as a way of acquiring passenger jet technology more cheaply than developing it themselves. European competitors, by contrast, are said to be interested in preventing the cheap flow of jet airliner technology to new Asian competitors.
Neither group, however, is likely to be prepared to take on Fokker's massive debts manufacturing facilities or even the cost of maintaining its existing fleet in service.
"Everyone is talking to them to find out what is in there," said one aerospace executive yesterday.
Aero Regional International, the regional aircraft joint venture between Aerospatiale of France, British Aerospace and Alenia of Italy, has asked Fokker for information about the company's intentions.
Its interest is likely to be restricted to curbing technology transfer and maintaining an orderly secondhand market in regional aircraft.
Canadian aerospace giant, Bombardier, whose Short Brothers subsidiary in Northern Ireland makes wings for the Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 jets, also said for the first time yesterday that it would meet the Dutch company's management for talks. The Canadian company has been the most widely tipped in the Netherlands to acquire all or parts of Fokker.
Until now, Samsung of Korea is the only company to have openly expressed an interest in considering a deal with Fokker. However, Samsung officials have tried to temper expectations that the company is preparing a bid.
Fokker said it would hold talks with all interested parties but added that it was unlikely to be able to narrow the field to one candidate this week.
Potential buyers have not yet been sent details of Fokker's business, which would disclose how much of the liabilities remain with the Dutch company and how much have been borne by Daimler Benz Aerospace, the German majority shareholder which withdrew financial support for Fokker last month.
