Siemens Plessey
Encyclopedia
Siemens Plessey was the name given to the Plessey
businesses acquired by Siemens
in 1989. Plessey, a British-based international electronics, defence and telecommunications company, was at the time the second largest defence electronics contractor to the Ministry of Defence
and the largest supplier of traffic control equipment.
In 1988 a full merger between Plessey and GEC was rejected. Instead GEC and Plessey merged their communications businesses to form GEC Plessey Telecommunications. In 1989, GEC and Siemens set up a joint holding company
, GEC Siemens plc, to launch a hostile takeover of Plessey. The division of Plessey between these two partners meant the deal met with little regulatory opposition. Siemens acquired Plessey's radar systems, defence systems and traffic control businesses.
The defence electronics operations became Siemens Plessey Systems (commonly referred to as Siemens Plessey) and Siemens Plessey Electronics Systems (Australia). In 1997 Siemens came to an agreement with British Aerospace
and Daimler-Benz Aerospace
for the takeover of its defence electronics unit, with BAe acquiring the UK operations and DASA acquiring the German part of the business, respectively.
Siemens Traffic Controls continues to operate as a unit of Siemens.
Plessey
The Plessey Company plc was a British-based international electronics, defence and telecommunications company. It originated in 1917, growing and diversifying into electronics. It expanded after the second world war by acquisition of companies and formed overseas companies...
businesses acquired by Siemens
Siemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
in 1989. Plessey, a British-based international electronics, defence and telecommunications company, was at the time the second largest defence electronics contractor to the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
and the largest supplier of traffic control equipment.
In 1988 a full merger between Plessey and GEC was rejected. Instead GEC and Plessey merged their communications businesses to form GEC Plessey Telecommunications. In 1989, GEC and Siemens set up a joint holding company
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
, GEC Siemens plc, to launch a hostile takeover of Plessey. The division of Plessey between these two partners meant the deal met with little regulatory opposition. Siemens acquired Plessey's radar systems, defence systems and traffic control businesses.
The defence electronics operations became Siemens Plessey Systems (commonly referred to as Siemens Plessey) and Siemens Plessey Electronics Systems (Australia). In 1997 Siemens came to an agreement with British Aerospace
British Aerospace
British Aerospace plc was a UK aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer. Its head office was in the Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire...
and Daimler-Benz Aerospace
DASA
DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG, or DASA, was the former aerospace subsidiary of Daimler-Benz AG from 1989...
for the takeover of its defence electronics unit, with BAe acquiring the UK operations and DASA acquiring the German part of the business, respectively.
Siemens Traffic Controls continues to operate as a unit of Siemens.