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BAE Systems deal cannot be rushed

In theory, the proposed merger between BAE Systems and EADS, the European aviation manufacturer, makes sound commercial sense.

In reality, the deal would require such a delicate balancing act between competing interests that, without cast-iron agreements over governance, it has the potential for disaster.

The chief advantage of the £28 billion pound deal is economic. Combining the defence expertise of BAE with the world's largest civilian aircraft manufacturer would create economies of scale that would provide a competitive edge at a time when defence contracts are shrinking both across Europe and in the US. Both businesses would also be bolstered by the tendency of the demand cycles for civilian and military aviation to balance one another.

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