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 By Roland JACKSON London (AFP) July 6, 2018
British engine maker Rolls-Royce announced Friday it has agreed to sell its loss-making commercial marine business to Norwegian industrial group Kongsberg for 500 million pounds. The deal, worth $661 million, is part of a massive overhaul led by chief executive Warren East, Rolls-Royce said in a statement. The news comes three weeks after the London-listed company launched plans to axe 4,600 mainly British management roles by 2020 to further slash costs. Rolls is implementing a sweeping restructuring plan which aims to generate 400 million pounds of annual cost savings by the end of 2020. The group has weathered a tough trading environment in recent years on weak demand for its power systems, in particular ones used by the marine industry. "This transaction builds on the actions we have taken over the last two years to simplify our business," said boss East on Friday. "The sale of our commercial marine business will enable us to focus on our three core businesses of civil aerospace, defence and power systems, and on meeting the vital power needs of our customers." The commercial marine division, which has been drastically restructured since 2015, employs about 3,600 staff mainly in the Nordic region. In recent years, the troubled business has been hurt by weak oil prices, which has dented demand for marine vessels and equipment. Kongsberg added in a separate statement that the acquisition will be partly financed by a rights issue, or sale of new shares, totalling 5.0 billion kroner ($620 million, 530 million euros). Kongsberg is 50 percent owned by the Norwegian government. Rolls-Royce expects net proceeds of 350 million pounds to 400 million pounds from the transaction, which is set to complete early next year. The disposal is meanwhile set to have a positive profit impact of around 50 million pounds based on 2017 figures, according to Rolls-Royce. The company had in January launched a strategic review of the division, which generated 2017 revenues of 817 million pounds but an operating loss of 70 million pounds. Kongsberg, which has operations in 25 countries and 7,000 staff, provides products to sectors including defence, oil and gas and aerospace. "The acquisition of Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine makes us a more complete supplier to the maritime industry," added Kongsberg chief executive Geir Haoy. "With this acquisition we will strengthen our strategic position with shipowners, shipyards and other customers and partners." Rolls-Royce, whose engines are used in Airbus and Boeing aircraft, has 16,000 staff at its main UK operational base in Derby in central England. The entire group currently employs about 55,000 staff across 50 countries worldwide.
French arms exports halved in 2017, Mideast clients still biggest Paris (AFP) July 2, 2018 French weaponry exports fell sharply last year in the absence of major deals to sell new Rafale fighter jets, with Middle Eastern clients again making up the bulk of the orders, the defence ministry said Monday. In its annual report to parliament, the ministry said the value of exports dropped to 6.9 billion euros ($8 billion) from 14 billion euros the previous year and the record 17 billion euros booked in 2015. Those two years saw the first big export orders for Rafale jets made by Dassault Av ... read more
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