Odense, September 15th, 2025
Because of recent developments in DAC shareholding no shareholders own more than 25% of Danish Aerospace Company. DAC has therefore applied to be considered a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) in Europe.
Obtaining SME status will create new opportunities for DAC in competing for European Union (EU) programs – including those in the defense and space sectors – which all utilize EU’s definition of SMEs in connection with their procurement activities.
The past years DAC has technically not been an SME due to the company’s ownership structure. EU’s criteria for SMEs cover the category; micro companies and small and medium sized enterprises that:
- Employ under 250 people, and that
- have a yearly revenue not exceeding EUR 50m. or a yearly total balance not exceeding EUR 43m.
- Are independent, i.e. own less than 25% of the capital or voting rights in one or more separate companies, and/or if other companies own less than 25% of the capital or voting rights in the company.
In cases where the above-mentioned percentages exceed 25%, the share of the owners and owned companies must be included in the calculations of the SME status.
The development in DAC’s shares in the past 6 months, and thus the company’s ownership status, today approx. 7.300 shareholders, has meant that DAC can now apply for this status, as none of the shareholders holds more than 25% of DAC any longer.
In EU, EDF (European Defense Fund) and ESA (European Space Agency) several specific programs have been adopted to increase the competitive position of SMEs through research and innovation and to improve their access to funding. Specifically with ESA, SMEs are automatically approved of 30% advanced payment of contracts, while for non-SMEs it is only 10%.
“I am extremely pleased that we can once again apply for SME status. This opens up to several opportunities to participate with our technology in specific and very interesting development programs targeted SMEs. This applies to both ESA and EU, but equally important, within the defense sector at EDF. Simultaneously, this will also significantly help with the company’s cashflow in the future”. states DAC’s CEO Thomas A. E. Andersen.
For further information:
Thomas A. E. Andersen, CEO, Danish Aerospace Company A/S
Cell phone: +45 40 29 41 62, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.