International
Chinese acquisition of Belgian helicopter company NHV blocked
A Belgian screening committee has prevented the acquisition of Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen by a Chinese company. The firm operates in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen (NHV), based in Ostend, is a Belgian helicopter company that transports personnel to and from offshore platforms. NHV also competes for contracts with the Belgian Defense and has activities in the Netherlands.
According to a Belgian screening committee, the proposed acquisition of NHV by an Irish helicopter company, which is a subsidiary of the Chinese aviation firm GDAT Group, has been blocked. The committee made this decision to avoid potential risks.
The acquisition was planned for early this year, but the positive assessment required for the transaction was not granted. It remains unclear what specific concerns led the committee to this decision.
NHV will now continue to operate independently and can participate in projects within the Belgian and Dutch markets. This decision therefore has direct implications for the company’s strategic position in the region.
The exact future plans of NHV are currently unknown, and the parties involved have not yet made further comments regarding the cancellation of the acquisition.