++ Schlumberger has agreed the sale of its French-based Data Acquisition & Recorders Division (DAR) to Avicore, a UK company formed in 1996 to acquire W Vinten, the reconnaissance and electronic-countermeasures producer. The two operations are of roughly equal size, and together will boast a turnover of around £40 million ($65 million).The move is expected to be the first of several acquisitions by Avicore ++ The Carlyle Group is merging Contour Aerospace, a US machined-part producer, into Aerostructures, the unit which was acquired from Textron. The new business will have combined sales of $300 million. ++ Hexcel of Connecticut has bought major parts of Fiberite, an Arizona-based supplier of advanced composites for aerospace ap- plications, for $300 million. Fiberite divisions affected by the sale include sites in Tempe, Arizona; Newark, Delaware; Winona, Minnesota; Delano, Pennsylvania; Greensville, Texas and Courcelles-les-Lens, France. The acquisition is aimed at enhancing Hexcel's participation in space and defence programmes, says the company. ++ Aerospace and defence electronics group Ultra Electronics, which launched on to the UKstock exchange in October 1996, has acquired Flightline Electronics of Rochester, New York, for $12.5 million. Flightline specialises in sonobuoy telemetry receivers for maritime-patrol aircraft. The companies already co-operate on the Royal Navy's EH Industries EH-101 Merlin and British Aerospace Nimrod 2000 maritime-patrol aircraft. ++ Latching specialist Western Sky Industries has bought Hartwell, the California-based manufacturer of latches, struts and hinges for commercial and military aircraft. Hartwell, founded in 1939 with sites in California, Mexico and Germany, will now operate as a subsidiary of Western Sky. ++ Reflectone shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the merger with British Aerospace. The UK company will use US simulator builder to expand its training business.
Source: Flight International
