French aircraft manufacturer Daher announced on Thursday that it is acquiring Quest Aircraft Company. Quest, which is based in Sandpoint, Idaho, manufactures the Kodiak 100 single-engine, 10-seat turboprop. According to Daher, the acquisition will reinforce its manufacturing capabilities and expand its position in the general and business aviation segments by allowing the company to offer a wider range of products.
“The Quest Aircraft Company’s acquisition represents an additional step in our development in the United States and an overall strengthening of our aircraft manufacturing business,” said Daher CEO Didier Kayat. “In addition to making Daher the world’s seventh largest aircraft manufacturer in business aviation, it provides us with our first industrial site in the United States, thereby reinforcing Daher’s position as a Tier-1 aerospace equipment and systems manufacturer, as well as a logistics and services provider.”
Daher, which produces the TBM single-engine turboprop family, says it intends to introduce “technologies and functionalities for the Kodiak aircraft that have contributed to the successes achieved by the TBM.” Although the acquisition is not expected to be finalized until the end of 2019, Daher will be exhibiting the Kodiak 100 at the Paris Air Show, which will take place June 17-23 at the Parc des Expositions Paris-le Bourget in Le Bourget, France. Details of the acquisition terms have not been made public.
Buying out a competitor, as a way to improve profits.