Industry News
General Dynamics Awarded $31 Million Option for Production of Tactical Satellite Communications Terminals
General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies has been awarded a $30.5 million follow-on order for satellite communications terminals that will be used in the U.S. Marine Corps Support Wide Area Network (SWAN) program. The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Lifecycle Management Command, Ft. Monmouth, N.J., is the contracting authority. The order is the first of four options on an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract that has a total potential value of $160 million if all options are exercised.
The terminals will provide deployed warfighters with robust, beyond-line-of-sight communications for a broad spectrum of information services including video, multimedia, data and imagery.
Under this order, the U.S. Marine Corps is requesting quantities of General Dynamics Warrior 120 (1.2-meter) and Warrior 180 (1.8-meter) very small aperture (VSAT) flyaway terminals and 2.4-meter trailer-mounted terminals for quick-setup tactical communications.
The Marines SWAN program is acquiring this equipment through the World-Wide Satellite Systems (WWSS) contract, which is intended to provide communications systems that are capable of overcoming existing and projected bandwidth constraints for Department of Defense transformation programs worldwide. WWSS is available to support all federal communications missions, including disaster relief and homeland security efforts.
General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies is a leading supplier of emergency, strategic and tactical satcom ground terminals for reachback and range extension, including complete communications interoperability and control of fixed and mobile terminals. Additionally, the company offers a full line of satcom electronics products including VertexRSI brand solid-state power amplifiers, controls systems and tracking receivers. The company also supplies Prodelin brand VSAT antennas and Gabriel brand antennas for microwave applications. General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies is a part of General Dynamics C4 Systems, a leading integrator of secure communication and information systems and technology.
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SAP Appoints Vishal Sikka as Chief Technology Officer
Representatives of SAP AG announced the appointment of Vishal Sikka as chief technology officer (CTO) to lead the companys technology and architecture strategy across its product portfolio. Effective April 2007, Sikka is responsible for ensuring a clear and harmonized road map for SAP products to deliver ongoing innovation and long-term value to customers worldwide. As CTO, Sikka leads the companys forward-thinking efforts around emerging technologies, plays a leading role in the long-term direction of SAPs research efforts and is chartered with mapping SAPs next-generation architecture. Reporting to SAP CEO Henning Kagermann, Sikka heads SAPs newly established Office of the CTO to drive these efforts.
Sikka assumes the role of CTO after serving as senior vice president of architecture and chief software architect at SAP, responsible for the road map and direction of the architecture of SAPs products and infrastructure. Prior to this role, Sikka was the head of the Advanced Technology Group at SAP, with responsibility for strategic innovative projects. Before joining SAP, Sikka served as area vice president for platform technologies at Peregrine Systems, responsible for application development and integration technologies and architecture. He joined Peregrine following the acquisition of Bodha, Inc., which he founded and served as the companys chairman and CEO. Bodha developed technology for non-invasive, service-based integration of enterprise applications and for semantic information integration.
Sikka holds a doctorate in computer science from Stanford University and is based in the SAP office in Palo Alto, California.
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EDS Selected by Defense Department for Financial Systems Service Contract
Representatives of EDS announced it has been selected by the U.S. Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) to provide information technology support for software development and maintenance of financial and accounting systems under the DFAS Financial Integrated Systems Services-III (DFISS-III) contract. EDS is one of four companies that will compete for task orders under the five-year blanket purchase agreement with a $500 million ceiling.
EDS will support the DFAS – Technology Services Organization as it provides services such as planning and developing architectures; designing, building, operating and maintaining essential DFAS infrastructure systems; providing software engineering services in accordance with DFAS standard methods and procedures; and establishing and managing the DFAS enterprise information infrastructure architecture and engineering environment. These services will support DFAS as it continues to streamline and realign its business functions.
As an incumbent contractor on the DFISS-I and DFISS-II contracts, EDS provided support services to DFAS in the successful deployment of essential programs such as the Deployable Disbursing System, to provide automated funds disbursement in support of warfighters and military contractors; and the Capital Asset Management System – Military Equipment Inventory Valuation System.
The EDS team includes General Dynamics Information Technology, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Bucher & Christian Consulting and several small business partners.
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Iain Conn Becomes Chief Executive of BPs Refining and Marketing Business
On Thursday, representatives of BP announced that Iain Conn has been appointed chief executive of the groups refining and marketing business with effect from June 1, 2007. He replaces John Manzoni who is leaving BP after 24 years service.
Manzoni has agreed with the board that, following a three-month handover period, he will step down as a group managing director and leave BP on August 31, 2007. He intends to take a senior position elsewhere in the industry. Conns current responsibilities for functions and regions will be shared with other executive colleagues.
Iain Conn was appointed an executive director of BP in July 2004 with functional responsibility for safety & operations, technology, marketing, human resources, information technology, procurement and supply chain management. He also had regional responsibility for Europe, Africa, Middle East, Russia, Caspian and Asia Pacific.
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Steven S. Reinemund Elected to ExxonMobil Board
Representatives of Exxon Mobil Corporationannounced that shareholders elected Steven S. Reinemund to its board of directors. Mr. Reinemund is the retired chairman and chief executive officer of PepsiCo, Inc.
With Reinemund's election, the ExxonMobil board stands at twelve directors, ten of whom are non-employee directors.
Reinemund held a number of key leadership positions during his tenure at PepsiCo. He was the executive chairman of PepsiCo from October 2006 until May 1, 2007. He served as chairman and chief executive officer from May 2001 until his retirement in October 2006. He was elected a director of PepsiCo in 1996 and served as president and chief operating officer from September 1999 until May of 2001. Reinemund began his career with PepsiCo in 1984 at Pizza Hut, Inc. and held progressively more responsible positions until he became president and chief executive officer of Frito-Lay's North American snack division in 1992. He became chairman and chief executive officer of Frito-Lay's worldwide operations in 1996.
Reinemund also serves as a director of Johnson & Johnson, Marriott International, Inc. and American Express Company. He serves as the chair of the National Minority Supplier Development Council and as a trustee of the United States Naval Academy Foundation.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Reinemund served five years as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of Captain. He obtained his MBA from the University of Virginia in 1978.
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Toshiba Names Jeff Howorth Vice President of Strategic Business Group
Representatives of Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. announced that Jeff Howorth has been named vice president, Strategic Business Group.
Howorth will be responsible for developing Toshiba's Strategic Business Group, a new division within the company focused on developing partnerships with Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs). He will oversee strategic business account managers across the country who will be equipped with a portfolio consisting of Toshiba medical equipment, as well as products from Toshiba sister companies, customized marketing services, financing programs and consulting services. This extensive portfolio will enable the group to sign strategic partnership contracts directly with IDNs and incrementally drive business.
Howorth has more than 19 years of sales experience in the medical imaging industry. Most recently, he served as zone vice president, Strategic Business for Philips Medical Systems, where he was a mentor for new sales account management. He graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in Finance from the University of Nebraska.
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Rockwell Automation To Acquire ICS Triplex
Representatives of Rockwell Automation, Inc. announced May 24 that it has reached an agreement by which it will acquire Industrial Control Services Group Limited ("ICS") for £110 million (US$218 million) in cash. ICS trades and does business as ICS Triplex, a leading global supplier of critical control and safety solutions to process industries. With 40 years of experience, ICS Triplex develops, delivers and maintains advanced products and solutions for high availability, fault-tolerant applications in process industry segments worldwide.
ICS Triplex annual revenues are projected to be approximately £70 million (US$138 million) for their current fiscal year which ends May 31, 2007. Rockwell Automation expects the transaction to be slightly dilutive to earnings per share in the first full fiscal year and accretive thereafter. Headquartered in Maldon, United Kingdom, ICS Triplex has more than 500 employees and operations across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. ICS Triplex provides engineering services, products, and solutions for industries that demand high-integrity critical control. These industries primarily include oil and gas exploration, production, transportation, and refining as well as chemicals and power generation.
The process for acquiring ICS has started with an irrevocable undertaking from the owner of approximately 96 percent of ICS ordinary shares and the owner of 100 percent of ICS preference shares to accept this offer. Accordingly, by way of a United Kingdom public offer, Rockwell Automation expects, subject to the receipt of regulatory approval from the German Federal Cartel Office and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, to acquire 100 percent equity interest in Industrial Control Services Group Limited. The transaction is expected to be completed during the third calendar quarter of 2007.
ICS Triplex will be included in the Control Products and Solutions operating segment.
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3M Acquires Rights to PERIDEX Oral Rinse from Zila Inc.
Representatives of 3M announced it has acquired the manufacturing and marketing rights to the PERIDEX brand periodontal rinse product from Zila Inc. for $9.5 million in cash.
OMNI Preventive Care, a 3M ESPE Company since early 2006, has sold PERIDEX brand oral rinse to dentists in the U.S. since 2000.
Periodontal diseases are serious bacterial infections that destroy the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold teeth in the mouth. Left untreated, these diseases can lead to tooth loss. PERIDEX 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse is a prescription mouth rinse that reduces the redness, swelling and bleeding of gums caused by gingivitis. The rinse, which features an herbal mint taste, continues to work after rinsing because one third of its active ingredient – chlorhexidine gluconate – binds to oral surfaces and is slowly released into oral fluids.
3M ESPE manufactures and markets more than 2,000 products and services designed to help dental professionals improve their patients' oral health care. 3M Health Care, one of 3Ms six major business segments, provides world-class innovative products and services to help health care professionals improve the practice and delivery of patient care in medical, oral care, drug delivery and health information markets.
