Astronics ramps-up defense and aerospace test and measurement with EADS T&S acquisition

EAST AURORA, N.Y., 24 Jan. 2014. Executives of Astronics Corp. in East Aurora, N.Y., are boosting their company's expertise in automatic test & measurement with their pending acquisition of the EADS North America Test and Services division (EADS T&S) in Irvine, Calif.

Astronics has agreed to acquire substantially all of the assets and liabilities of EADS T&S for about $53 million in cash plus a net working capital adjustment. The agreement is expected to close in February.

EADS T&S provides engineered automatic test systems (ATS), subsystems and instruments for the defense, commercial aerospace, semiconductor, and consumer electronics industries. On closing EADS T&S will be reported to the Astronics Test Systems segment.

EADS T&S provides customized testing systems and support services, and designs and manufactures test equipment under the Racal and Talon brands. EADS T&S had 2013 sales of about $70 million. Sales for 2014 for the business are expected to be about $100 million.

EADS T&S has "a skill set which is complementary to our own, and together we will field a stronger team than either entity would do on their own," says Astronics CEO Peter Gundermann.

EADS T&S was founded in 1950 as Racal Electronic Group and has about 210 employees. For more information contact Astronics online at http://astronics.com, or EADS T&S at www.eads-nadefense.com.