EADS and Thales Nederland join forces in naval activities
Wilhelmshaven, 20 April 2001
EADS Deutschland GmbH, Munich/Germany, and Thales Nederland B.V. (formerly Thomson-CSF Signaal), Hengelo/the Netherlands, intensify their longstanding co-operation by establishing a joint venture company in the field of naval combat systems.
On 6 February 2001 the companies signed a shareholders' agreement in order to establish a joint venture (50% EADS, 50% Thales Nederland) that will be registered in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, under the name of ET Marinesysteme GmbH. Having obtained approval of the merger control authorities the joint venture will be operational well before the middle of this year, both companies announced on Friday.
The objective of the new company is to consolidate and enhance the existing activities related to the common programs of the German and Netherlands Navies and to fully utilize this potential for new projects and export activities. Among the major current areas of co-operation are the combat system for the frigate program of the German (F124) and Netherlands (LCF) Navies, the combat system for the corvette program (K130) of the German Navy, the development of the multifunction Active Phased Array Radar (APAR) and MTBMD activities.
Dr. Stefan Zoller, President and CEO of EADS' Defence Electronics business unit, anticipates substantial market potential in the joined activities of both partner companies: "The combination of our respective technological skills within the new company enables us to offer innovative solutions for the future needs of naval forces", Zoller underlines.
Rob Boswijk, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Management of Thales Nederland b:v:, is convinced that further concentration and improvement of the co-operative activities, located in immediate customer vicinity, will be highly beneficial to all parties concerned.
With revenues amounting to EUR 24.2 billion (2000) and 87,000 employees EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company is the largest aerospace and defence company in Europe and number three worldwide.
Thales Nederland B.V. is part of the naval business group of Thales, former Thomson-CSF, renamed at the end of 2000. Thales is active in three areas: Aerospace, Defence and Information Technology and Services, with a staff of 65,000 people worldwide and revenues amounting to EUR 8.6 billion. Thales is the world's leading company in defence electronics.
Press contacts:
EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company
Defence Electronics
Lothar Belz
Phone: (0731) 392-3681
Email: lothar.belz@vs.dasa.de
Thales Nederland B.V.
Adrian Smits
Phone: +31 (0) 74 248 2520
Email: adrian.smits@nl.thalesgroup.com
