Qatar’s state-owned investment company Barzan Holdings has increased its stake in UK modular trainer aircraft developer Aeralis by converting part of a previous £5 million ($6.7 million) loan into shares.
Responding to questions from FlightGlobal, Aeralis says it ”has always been (and remains) a majority British-owned company.”
With the UK Ministry of Defence poised to begin the process of replacing its BAE Systems Hawk trainer fleet, a requirement which Aeralis believes can be met with its modular light jet offering, the company notes it is the ”only British designer and manufacturer in the running to replace Hawk.”
”It follows therefore that our investor [Barzan] will not invoke rights that might adversely affect the contractual opportunities available to companies in which it invests,” Aeralis says. That includes taking the company out of majority UK ownership.
”The only event in which such an outcome [Barzan majority ownership] can now occur is subject both to UK government Investment Security Unit approval and in the event the interests of the company and its shareholders materially and substantially change.”
Additionally, Aeralis has secured another £1.8 million loan “from shareholder support”, repayable on demand and bearing an annual interest rate of 8%. As of 31 December 2024 – the period covered by the accounts – Aeralis had £5.8 million in outstanding loans.
No details of the source of the latest funding are disclosed in the accounts, however. Companies House documents show that as of 30 April 2025, there were 59 separate shareholders in Aeralis.
https://www.flightglobal.com/defence...165900.article