Eads slams merger critics

Airbus owner Eads has attacked critics of its proposed £30 billion mega-merger with UK defence giant BAE Systems as “anonymous snipers”.

Suggestions that the German government is not supportive of the deal, which also requires approval of the British and French administrations, were dismissed by Eads as not reflecting “constructive talks” with Angela Merkel’s ministers. Talking to German business daily Handelsblatt, an Eads spokesman added that comments made on negotiations by unnamed sources “aren’t relevant”.

The political edge has worried the markets since the deal was announced on Wednesday. Shares in BAE and Eads were badly hit yesterday, though the UK group today recovered by almost 4%.

There have been fears over job security once the merger, to be formally proposed next month, is completed. But BAE has been shedding jobs and the companies argue that a combined group would be financially stronger.