on 6 april 2006 bae systems planned to sell its 20% share in airbus, then "conservatively valued" at €3.5 billion (us$4.17 billion). analysts suggested the move to make partnerships with u.s. firms more feasible, in both financial and political terms. bae originally sought to agree on a price with eads through an informal process. due to lengthy negotiations and disagreements over price, bae exercised its put option, which saw investment bank rothschild appointed to give an independent valuation.