L-3 Buys British ECM Firm TRL
L-3 Communications has completed the acquisition of British firm TRL Electronics plc. On May 18, 2006, the two firms announced agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer by L-3 agents Lehman Brothers of GBP 3.60 (US $6.78) in cash per share, which valued the existing issued ordinary share capital at GBP 89.7 million. The acquisition’s completion was announced on July 18, 2006 for a total cash consideration of GBP 95.9 million (approximately US $176.2 million).
TRL offers advanced radio and satellite communications and security systems, Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) that include responsive radio jammers and denial-of-service devices, military grade ATM and IP network cryptography, et. al. of the sort that may prove useful to Project HELIX and similar efforts. L-3’s July 18 release notes that:
“TRL offers some of the most advanced radio and satellite communications systems available, providing governments and defense organizations around the world with the tools to trace, locate, monitor and defend transmissions, as well as to communicate securely.
TRL is an expert in ECM to protect against subversive threats. It has a unique and valuable development capability, with key recent ECM developments focused on responsive radio jammers and denial-of-service devices. The company also is a provider of military-off-the-shelf (MOTS) ECM and Electronic Warfare Support Measures (ESM) products and significant research and development (R&D) for the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD).
One key business, TRL’s Electronic Security division, is a specialist in the protection of sensitive electronic data during transmission and storage using cryptographic techniques, and it is a provider of the highest military grade ATM and IP network cryptography.”
