Christophe Garaud~~Paul Lombard~~Jan Wilms~~Rita D. Mitchell~~Jean-Quentin De Cuyper~~Cindy J. Chernuchin
January 23, 2026
PAI Partners and ADB Airfield Solutions Acquire Safegate

1 min
AI-made summary
- PAI Partners and its portfolio company ADB Airfield Solutions have acquired Safegate International AB from Fairford Group, as announced on February 26
- Safegate, based in Sweden, supplies airfield solutions such as aircraft docking guidance, gate management, airfield lighting, and air traffic control systems to over 1,300 airports in 130 countries
- The acquisition aims to establish the combined entity as the world leader in advanced airfield guidance systems
- Willkie advised on the cross-border transaction.
PAI and portfolio company ADB acquired Safegate from Fairford Group. On February 26, Willkie clients PAI Partners and portfolio company ADB Airfield Solutions announced the acquisition of Safegate International AB from Fairford Group. Sweden-based Safegate is a leading airfield solutions business providing aircraft docking guidance systems, gate management systems, airfield lighting solutions and air traffic control systems to more than 1,300 airports in 130 countries. ADB is a global airfield lighting solutions provider. The acquisition will create the world leader in advanced airfield guidance systems, from aircraft landing to parking. PAI is a leading European private equity firm managing €8.1 billion of dedicated buyout funds. The cross-border Willkie deal team was led by partner Christophe Garaud and included partners Paul Lombard, David Tayar, Jan Wilms and Jeffrey Goldfarb; national partners Rita Mitchell, James Crooks, Jean-Quentin De Cuyper and Didier Willermain; special European counsel Jeffrey Fouts and Stanislas Curien; counsel Cindy Chernuchin; associates Xavier Nassoy, Igor Kukhta, Mathilde de Wiljes, Anouk Falgas, Henri Weil, Zoé Janssen, Christopher Clerihew and Claire Soloski.
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Christophe Garaud~~Paul Lombard~~Jan Wilms~~Rita D. Mitchell~~Jean-Quentin De Cuyper~~Cindy J. Chernuchin
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