Industry News
Alcatel and Lucent Complete Merger
Representatives of Alcatel and Lucent Technologies announced the completion of their merger transaction The new company Alcatel-Lucent, with one of the largest global R&D capabilities in communications and the broadest wireless, wireline and services portfolio, is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. The company will be traded on Euronext Paris and the New York Stock Exchange from December 1st, 2006 under a new common ticker.As a result of the merger, each outstanding share of Lucent common stock has been converted into the right to receive 0.1952 of an Alcatel ADS. In connection with the merger, Alcatel has issued approximately 878 million shares, which is equivalent to the total number of ADS to be issued to the holders of Lucent common stock. Following the completion of the merger, approximately 2.31 billion ordinary shares of Alcatel-Lucent are outstanding.
Serge Tchuruk has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Alcatel-Lucent and Patricia Russo is Chief Executive Officer.
There will be five Business Groups: the Wireline Business Group, the Wireless Business Group and the Convergence Business Group (addressing the needs of the carrier market), the Enterprise Business Group and the Service Business Group. Each Business Group will have a decentralized regional organization that will provide strong local support to customers.
In addition there will be several corporate functions that support the company including worldwide integrated supply chain and procurement, finance, information technology, marketing, human resources, legal and communications.
The 14 Members of the Board of Directors are: Daniel Bernard, W. Frank Blount, Jozef Cornu, Linnet Deily, Robert Denham, Edward Hagenlocker, Jean-Pierre Halbron, Karl Krapek, Daniel Lebègue, Patricia Russo, Henry Schacht and Serge Tchuruk, and two additional jointly agreed directors appointed by the Alcatel-Lucent Board: Sylvia Jay and Jean-Cyril Spinetta, who were not members of either Alcatel Board of Directors or Lucent Board of Directors prior to the merger. There will be two Board observers representing the employee shareholders of the company's Employee Investment Fund: Jean-Pierre Desbois and Thierry de Loppinot.
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Lockheed Martin Receives $256 Million Contract
Lockheed Martin has received an initial $128 million from the United States government as part of a $256.2 million contract for three C-130J-30 combat delivery aircraft for the U.S. Air Force and one KC-130J tanker for the Marine Corps. These aircraft, slated for delivery in 2010, were authorized and funded by the FY06 Global War on Terror supplemental authorization. This contract brings the total number of C-130Js ordered to date to 186.
Recently selected by Canada as the only aircraft that can meet the nation's military tactical airlift needs, the C-130J is regarded as the U.S. Air Force's premier intratheater airlifter and the most advanced airlifter available on the world market.
Features of the Super Hercules include its extended range with greater thrust under all conditions, high-elevation/hot-temperature performance, enhanced situational awareness, enhanced defensive systems and significant operational flexibility. Redesigned and improved to operate in demanding environments, the C 130J delivers unmatched austere airfield, short take-off and landing performance for intra-theater operations. C-130Js operating in southwest Asia are conducting high tempo combat operations while maintaining reliability previously unrealized in a combat aircraft.
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General Dynamics Awarded $231 Million for Marine Corps Combat Operation Centers
General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, has received a $231 million contract modification from the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command for 165 Combat Operation Centers (COCs), mobile command and control systems. The COCs will meet an urgent operational need for regiment and battalion Marine Corps units in Iraq. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in July 2007 and to be completed by mid-2009. The COCs will be produced by existing employees in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The COC sets up within 40 minutes, includes a network of workstations supporting standard Tactical Data Systems and other mission-critical software, and has large-screen displays that can take input from any workstation. The system integrates non-secure and secret voice and data communications, Voice-over-Internet-Protocol capabilities and networked servers. Tents, trailers, radios, power generation and other tactical hardware are also integrated for command and control that can be deployed via air, ground or sea.
The Marine Corps has ordered more than 260 Combat Operation Centers since the program was originally awarded to General Dynamics in 2002. From battalion to expeditionary force level, COCs are enabling battlefield commanders to digitally collect, process and disseminate tactical information for a more comprehensive situational awareness and rapid decision-making during all phases of battle.
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EDS Promotes Feld to Senior Executive Vice President, Applications Services
Continuing to focus and simplify its global organization, representatives of EDS announced it has promoted Charlie Feld to senior executive vice president, Applications Services, a critical component of EDS' growth strategy. Mark Bilger, vice president and general manager, Global Applications Delivery, will now report directly to Feld.
EDS noted portfolio development now becomes part of the fabric of both the applications organization led by Feld and service delivery operations, which will continue to be led by Steve Heidt, vice president, Global Service Delivery Operations.
By embedding portfolio development into the company's core operations, EDS has simplified the organization and aligned its end-to-end capabilities to drive accountability, increase speed and reduce complexity.
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Dell Announces New Leader of Global Services Business
Representatives of Dell announced Tuesday the appointment of Steve Schuckenbrock to lead the company's global services organization. As senior vice president of global services, Mr. Schuckenbrock will report to CEO Kevin Rollins and serve as a member of the Dell Global Executive Management Committee. He will begin work with Dell on Jan. 8.
Analysts estimate the worldwide IT services market at $640 billion.
Mr. Schuckenbrock's experience ranges from automating an entire supply chain to providing innovative IT outsourcing and delivery solutions worldwide. Prior to joining Dell, Schuckenbrock served as co-chief operating officer and executive vice president of global sales and services for EDS. Before joining EDS in 2003, he was chief operating officer of The Feld Group, an IT consulting organization.
Serving as global chief information officer for PepsiCo from 1998 to 2000, Schuckenbrock developed and established the Business Solutions Group. Additionally with PepsiCo, he served as global chief information officer for Frito-Lay from 1995 to 1998. He held numerous sales and technology management positions at IBM from 1983 to 1993.
Schuckenbrock earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Elon University.
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3M Completes Sale of its Pharmaceuticals Business in Asia Pacific Region
Representatives of 3M announced it has completed its transaction with Ironbridge Capital and Archer Capital to sell 3M's pharmaceutical operations in the Asia Pacific region, including Australia and South Africa, for $349 million.
The new dedicated pharmaceuticals company will be headquartered in Sydney, Australia under the leadership of Tony Martin, formerly general manager of 3M Pharmaceuticals' Asia Pacific operations. The acquisition includes leading products in both over–the-counter and prescription medicines, such as Difflam, Duro-Tuss, Aldara, Tambocor and Duromine.
The transactions with Graceway Pharmaceuticals Inc. for the sale of 3M's pharmaceuticals operations in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America; and Meda AB for the sale of 3M's pharmaceuticals business in Europe, are expected to close within the next 30 days subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals, and in the case of Graceway Pharmaceuticals, the receipt of financing.
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Ericsson and Napster Announce Agreement with O2 Ireland
Representatives of Ericsson and Napster announce the first European launch for Napster Mobile, with Irish mobile phone operator O2 Ireland. O2 Ireland is also the first operator to launch Napster Mobile in i-mode.
O2 Ireland customers will be able to search, browse, preview and purchase full-length songs from Napster's catalog and enjoy Ericsson-aggregated personalization content via their i-mode, WAP and Java-enabled wireless handsets.
The service also features a recommendation engine which makes content recommendations based upon each consumer's musical taste, and dual delivery, a feature that sends a copy of the content purchased on the handset to the customer's PC.
Napster Mobile gives customers access to Napster's expert programming on the handset, including featured artists and top tracks of the day. Ericsson will host, integrate and manage the round-the-clock-operations of the service for O2 Ireland under a managed service agreement.
