Printer Friendly
The Free Library
14,529,145 articles and books
Member login
User name  
Password 
 
Join us Forgot password?

GE to Acquire Smiths Aerospace, Extending Aviation Offerings; Plans JV with Smiths Group to Build Global Detection Business.


$4.8 billion cash deal reflects GE strategy to invest in high-growth businesses

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- General Electric Company (NYSE NYSE

See: New York Stock Exchange
:GE) announced today that it agreed to purchase Smiths Aerospace, a U.K.-based supplier of integrated systems for aircraft manufacturers and components for engine builders, for $4.8 billion in cash. The deal is subject to approval by Smiths Group shareowners as well as customary regulatory reviews.

The acquisition will broaden GE's offerings for aviation customers by adding Smiths innovative flight management systems, electrical power management, mechanical actuation ac·tu·ate  
tr.v. ac·tu·at·ed, ac·tu·at·ing, ac·tu·ates
1. To put into motion or action; activate: electrical relays that actuate the elevator's movements.

2.
 systems and airborne airborne /air·borne/ (ar´born) suspended in, transported by, or spread by air.
airborne,
adj carried through the air. In health care settings, viruses or bacteria may become airborne, e.g.
 platform computing Platform Computing is a privately held software company that is primarily known for its job scheduling product, Load Sharing Facility (LSF). It was founded in 1992 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarter is in Markham, ON.  systems to GE Aviation's commercial and military aircraft engines and related services.

GE Chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board.  Jeff Immelt said, "Smiths Aerospace is a world-class business and a great extension of our Aviation business. Like GE, Smiths has built its business by investing in technology and innovative products and services. GE and Smiths fit together well because our product offerings are complementary, and because we have similar customers and deep domain expertise in this industry.

"This acquisition is consistent with our strategy to invest in high-technology infrastructure businesses that deliver strong growth, earnings expansion and higher margins," Immelt said. "GE Aviation is growing about 10% a year and this acquisition gives us a technology growth platform that will be accretive to our net income and will deliver immediate and future value for our investors."

Smiths Aerospace, which is part of Smiths Group, has more than 11,000 employees and had $2.4 billion in revenues in 2006. Smiths has a significant presence on most commercial aircraft, including the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, as well as many military aircraft. More importantly, Smiths has a major presence on new aircraft such as the Boeing 787, Airbus A380 and the Joint Strike Fighter A strike fighter is a fighter aircraft which is also capable of attacking surface targets, including ships. It differs from an attack aircraft in that the aircraft remains a capable fighter. .

Smiths products include flight management systems, airborne platform computing systems, power generation, conversion and distribution products, actuation products and systems for flight control, thrust reversers and landing gear applications, various engine components and a global customer services organization.

Smiths Group Chief Executive Keith Butler-Wheelhouse said, "The Board of Smiths Group is delighted to have reached agreement on the sale of Smiths Aerospace to GE. The consideration reflects the future potential of Smiths Aerospace, which has been created by intense investment in technology over the past five years and by the successful efforts of the dedicated Smiths Aerospace employees."

GE Aviation is headquartered in Evendale, Ohio Evendale is a village in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,090 at the 2000 census.

Evendale was the home of John Van Zandt, a participant in the Underground Railroad.
, has 26,800 employees and had $13.2 billion in revenues in 2006. Its products include jet engines for civil and military aircraft, as well as aeroderivative engines for marine applications. GE Aviation also operates a worldwide network of engine services facilities.

GE Aviation President and CEO Scott Donnelly Scott Donnelly, born Hammersmith 25 December, 1987, is an English professional footballer who played for QPR. Despite a promising start to his professional career, he failed to make the grade at QPR, and was released by the club in January 2007.  said, "The acquisition will broaden our collective expertise. Smiths has made significant investments in its aerospace technologies with resulting success on several exciting new aircraft. Together, we will bring greater product scope and value to our customers."

Detection Joint Venture

GE also announced today that it has signed a letter of intent with Smiths Group to create a detection joint venture with a portion of its Security business. The JV will include GE Security's Homeland Protection business and Smiths Detection. Upon completion of the transaction, GE will own 36% and Smiths 64% of the joint venture and both companies will have board representation, with Smiths having a majority. The definitive agreement is expected to be signed in the second quarter. The transaction will be subject to approval by Smiths shareowners as well as customary regulatory reviews and will be conditioned on the completion of GE's acquisition of Smiths Aerospace.

Louis Parker, President and CEO, GE Security, said, "Today's announcement is a big step in aligning a·lign  
v. a·ligned, a·lign·ing, a·ligns

v.tr.
1. To arrange in a line or so as to be parallel: align the tops of a row of pictures; aligned the car with the curb.
 our detection team with a business that has complementary technologies and creates a joint venture that will be able to offer a full-service suite of detection solutions on a global basis."

Immelt said, "We continue to believe security is a great long-term Long-term

Three or more years. In the context of accounting, more than 1 year.


long-term

1. Of or relating to a gain or loss in the value of a security that has been held over a specific length of time. Compare short-term.
 growth opportunity for GE. We have deep technical expertise and are experiencing strong growth in our security platform. This joint venture enhances our long-term position in the industry."

The joint venture, to be called Smiths GE Detection, will be headquartered in London. Keith Butler-Wheelhouse will serve as the chairman of the board. Stephen Phipson, currently group managing director of Smiths Detection, will serve as the president.

Keith Butler-Wheelhouse said, "Together we are creating a world-class business. GE's Homeland Protection business has a terrific leadership team, committed employees and exciting technology. Our combination of technologies will result in the development of more effective products and services to help make the world a safer place."

Smiths Detection is headquartered in London, U.K., has about 2,000 employees and had about $700 million revenues in 2006. GE Homeland Protection is headquartered in Newark, CA, has about 700 employees and had about $300 million in revenue during the year.

A presentation for analysts and investors by Keith Butler-Wheelhouse and Jeff Immelt will be held at 9:30 a.m. UK time (4:30 a.m. ET) at the Savoy Hotel, Strand, London Coordinates:  The Strand is a street in the City of Westminster. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length has  WC2R OEU OEU Operational Evaluation Unit (UK)
OEU Ocala Electric Utility
OEU Overhead Electronics Unit (aviation)
OEU Overall Equipment Utilization
OEU Operating Environment Update
. The event will be webcast live at www.smiths.com. Alternatively, interested parties can listen in live by calling +44 (0) 20 7138 0816 or +1 718 354 1171.

A joint media conference will be hosted today at 11:30 a.m. (UK time) at the Savoy Hotel. Also, an interview with Keith Butler-Wheelhouse and Jeff Immelt can be seen on www.Cantos.com.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work -- a diversified diversified (di·verˑ·s  technology, media and financial services The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject.
Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page.
 company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and advanced materials Advanced Materials is a leading peer-reviewed materials science journal published every two weeks. Advanced Materials includes Communications, Reviews, and Feature Articles from the cutting edge of materials science, including topics in chemistry, physics, , GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.

About GE Aviation

GE-Aviation is one of the world's leading producers of large and small jet engines for commercial and military aircraft. We also supply aircraft-derived engines for marine applications and provide aviation services. For more information, visit www.geaviation.com.

About GE Security

GE's Security business is a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary

A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock.

Notes:
In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners.
 of the General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) focused on communication and information technologies for security and life safety solutions. GE Security has more than 6,500 employees with operations in over 35 countries and is represented by some of the best-known brand names for intrusion and fire detection, access and building control, video surveillance, explosives and drug detection, key management and structured wiring. The Homeland Protection business is focused on explosives and narcotics narcotics n. 1) techinically, drugs which dull the senses. 2) a popular generic term for drugs which cannot be legally possessed, sold, or transported except for medicinal uses for which a physician or dentist's prescription is required.  detection and has approximately 730 employees located in the U.S., Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.gesecurity.com.

About Smiths Group

Smiths is a global technology company, listed on the London Stock Exchange London Stock Exchange

London marketplace for securities. It was formed in 1773 by a group of stockbrokers who had been doing business informally in local coffeehouses.
. Smiths Group is a world leader in the practical application of advanced technologies. Its products and services make the world safer, healthier and more productive. Smiths Group has four divisions: Aerospace, Detection, Medical and Specialty Engineering In systems engineering, Specialty Engineering includes the engineering domains that are not typical of the main engineering effort. Hardware engineering, software engineering, and human factors engineering may be used as major elements in a majority of systems engineering efforts . It employs 32,000 people and has over 250 major facilities in 50 countries. For more information visit www.smiths.com

About Smiths Aerospace

Smiths Aerospace is a leading transatlantic aerospace systems and equipment business, with more than 11,000 employees and $2 billion revenues globally. The business holds key positions in the supply chains of all major military and civil aircraft and engine manufacturers and is a world-leader in digital, electrical power, mechanical systems, engine components and customer services. For further information visit www.smiths-aerospace.com

About Smiths Detection

Smiths Detection is part of the global technology business Smiths Group. It offers advanced integrated security solutions for customers in civil and military markets worldwide and is a leading technology developer and manufacturer of sensors
  • Thermocouple
  • RTD - Resistance Temperature Detector or Resistance thermometer or Pt100
  • Microphone
  • Hydrophones
  • Seismometers
  • Photoresistor
  • Phototransistor
  • Infrared thermometer
  • Multi-User Multimodal Tabletop Interaction
  • Cationic Sensor
 that detect and identify explosives, chemical and biological agents, weapons, and contraband contraband, in international law, goods necessary or useful in the prosecution of war that a belligerent may lawfully seize from a neutral who is attempting to deliver them to the enemy. . Its advanced technology security solutions also include Smiths Heimann x-ray imaging systems, millimeter-wave technology and a specialist software supply business for the management of large sensor A device that measures or detects a real-world condition, such as motion, heat or light and converts the condition into an analog or digital representation. An optical sensor detects the intensity or brightness of light, or the intensity of red, green and blue for color systems.  and video surveillance networks. Separate business units focus on related products for the life sciences, and food manufacturing industries manufacturing industries nplindustrias fpl manufactureras

manufacturing industries nplindustries fpl de transformation

. For more information visit www.smithsdetection.com

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements forward-looking statement

A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections.
 

This document contains "forward-looking statements" - that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," or "will." Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, particular uncertainties which could adversely or positively affect our future results include: the behavior of financial markets, including fluctuations in interest rates and commodity prices; strategic actions, including dispositions; future integration of acquired businesses; future financial performance of major industries which we serve, including, without limitation, the air and rail transportation, energy generation, media, real estate and healthcare industries; unanticipated loss development in our insurance businesses; and numerous other matters of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive and regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.
COPYRIGHT 2007 Business Wire
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2007, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

 Reader Opinion

Title:

Comment:



 

Article Details
Printer friendly Cite/link Email Feedback
Publication:Business Wire
Date:Jan 15, 2007
Words:1552
Previous Article:Teen Actor William Erickson Meets with Stephen Ryder of Metropolis Films for Lead Role in New Film.
Next Article:Retail Teamwork(TM) Announces Launch of Breakthrough Retail Application Based on Microsoft Dynamics.
Topics:



Related Articles
Brass Tracks.(military personnel and defense industry executive appointments)(Brief Article)
Greenfield expansion proposed. (North Bay).(Brief Article)
Big deals in short.
GE Commercial, Denholtz join forces for country-wide acquisition spree.(NEW JERSEY)
Smiths Detection Acquisition of LiveWave(R) Adds New Technologies for Product Integration and Security Network Management.
Smiths Detection Acquisition of LiveWave(R) Adds New Technologies for Product Integration and Security Network Management.
Smiths Aerospace and Boeing Reach Milestone in Successful Refueling Hose Deployment for KC-767 Italian Tanker.
Business & General Aviation News.
Aircraft News - North America.
Aircraft News - Asia / Pacific.

Terms of use | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc. | Feedback | For webmasters | Submit articles