Airbus Hires Goldman for European Space Tie-Up to Rival Musk (2)

Airbus SEhas hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. for advice on an effort to forge a new European space and satellite company that can better compete with Elon Musk’s dominant SpaceX, according to people familiar with the matter.

The talks to create a space and satellite business with French aerospace company Thales and Italy’s Leonardo SpA are at an exploratory stage and its full portfolio of services hasn’t been set, the people said, asking not to be identified because discussions are confidential.

Rome-based Leonardo has hired Bank of America Inc. for the plan, which has been dubbed Project Bromo, ...