13 Dec 10. Dell Inc (DELL.O) plans to buy data storage company Compellent Technologies Inc (CML.N) for about $960m, in a bid to shake its reliance on hardware, but it may need to do more to compete in new technologies like cloud computing. Dell and rivals like Hewlett-Packard Co (HPQ.N) are all trying to invest in corporate business technologies including storage and services, as PC sales are hurt by low margins and competition from new devices like Apple Inc’s (AAPL.O) iPad. The deal for Compellent comes three months after Dell lost to HP in a bidding war for another storage firm, 3PAR, and as large vendors are looking to buy small firms and become “one-stop shops” for business technology. Dell and Compellent said last week they were negotiating a deal. Dell sweetened its cash offer to $27.75 a share from its bid last week of $27.50 per share. Net of Compellent’s cash, Dell said it will pay $820m. The offer is a 17 discount to the shares’ level before the companies revealed last week that they were in talks. Previously, the shares had risen 90 percent since late October when Reuters first reported a deal was under discussion. Analysts said the price seemed moderate. Dell’s offer values Compellent at around five times sales, compared with multiples of over eight that HP offered for 3PAR and EMC Corp (EMC.N) offered for Isilon. Dell said on Monday the deal, expected to close in early 2011, should add to its adjusted earnings in fiscal-year 2012. Compellent shares were down 3 percent, or 87 cents, at $27.84 on the New York Stock Exchange, 9 cents above Dell’s bid. (Source: Reuters)
13 Dec 10. Embraer announces the creation of Embraer Defense and Security, which is an important step in consolidating the Company’s central position in the process of strengthening Brazil’s defense and security industry.
“Brazil has a growing relevant role on the global geopolitical scenario and has established a long-term vision for strengthening its defense industry,” said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President & CEO. “Embraer, with its technological-industrial capabilities and 40 years of experience in defense programs, both in Brazil and abroad, is fully committed to support the Brazilian Government in ensuring the advanced
technological base the Country needs.”
Embraer’s current CFO, Luiz Carlos Aguiar, will be the President of Embraer Defense and Security. “Embraer’s defense and security business, whose income will surpass R$ 1.5bn in 2011, and will be strengthened over the coming years, not only in terms of meeting Brazil’s requirements, but also with respect to exports. We will expand and improve our capabilities through this new corporate configuration,” Luiz Carlos Aguiar stated.
At the present time, there are more than 30 defense forces, worldwide, that operate with Embraer products and systems. In recent years, Embraer has significantly invested in state-ofthe-art technologies for the defense sector, not only related to aircraft and airborne systems, but also to integrated solutions for other applications, such as Communication, Computer, Command, Control and Intelligence (C4I), and training. (Source: ASD Network)
15 Dec 10. Israeli defence electronics company Elbit Systems (ESLT.O) (ESLT.TA) said on Wednesday its subsidiary Elbit Systems of America acquired M7 Aerospace LP for $85 million in cash to expand its aviation support capabilities. Texas-based M7 Aerospace provides aviation services such as aerostructure manufacturing, government logistics support services, maintenance, repair and overhaul, engineering services and aircraft parts and support. M7 Aerospace will become part of Elbit Systems of America’s (ESA) offerings of support to fleets operated by the U.S. military as well as to commercial customers. (Source: Reuters)
13 Dec 10. Kaman Corporation (NASDAQ-GS: KAMN) today announced that its subsidiary Kaman Aerospace Group, Inc. has completed the previously announced acquisition of Global Aerosystems, LLC (Glo