Computer Sciences (CSC) is to sell services subsidiary DynCorp International to private-equity firm Veritas Capital for $850 million. The businesses involved provide aviation services and logistical support to the US Department of Defense and international customers.
The board of UK fire and safety products specialist Kidde, meanwhile, has recommended acceptance of an improved $2.8 billion cash takeover offer from United Technologies. Kidde provides aircraft fire-protection systems.
Veritas is buying businesses that represented about 37% of DynCorp's revenues when it was acquired by IT services specialist CSC in March last year for $914 million. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, DynCorp International had sales last year of $1.6 billion. Its Field Training Services division provides maintenance and modification services for large fleets of military-owned aircraft.
In the aircraft logistic support market DynCorp is a competitor of Vertex Aerospace, formerly Raytheon Aerospace, which was acquired by Veritas in June 2001 and sold to L-3 Communications for $650 million in November 2003.
Lockheed Martin is to buy UK network communications consultancy Stasys for an undisclosed sum. Employee-owned Stasys, which specialises in datalinks, had sales last year of £17 million ($32.5 million).
Source: Flight International
