Lagardere to sell EADS stake
French media group Lagardere said yesterday it will probably sell its 7.5 per cent stake in Airbus owner EADS by the end of next year. Chief executive Arnaud Lagardere said it was “more than probable” that the group would sell its stake, after the firm called off merger talks with BAE Systems last month. His comments are the latest sign of instability in the pact that unites EADS’ core shareholders, with key member Daimler also having made clear its plan to exit.The future composition of the pact – designed to maintain the balance between the company’s French and German shareholders – remains cloudy. EADS and BAE blamed Germany for wrecking the $45bn (£28bn) plans to merge.