- Alvis plc
Infobox Defunct Company
company_name = Alvis plc/Alvis Vickers plc
company_
fate = Acquired byBAE Systems
successor =BAE Systems Land Systems
foundation = 1981
defunct = 2004
location =London ,England , UKAlvis Ltd was created when United Scientific Holdings plc acquired the Alvis division of the nationalised vehicle manufacturer BL plc in 1981. United Scientific maintained its own name until 1992 when the group was renamed Alvis plc. Alvis plc acquired
Vickers Defence Systems from Rolls-Royce in October 2002 to form Alvis Vickers. Alvis Vickers was acquired byBAE Systems in 2004 and became BAE Systems Land Systems (Weapons & Vehicles) Ltd, now part of theBAE Systems Land and Armaments operating group.History
Alvis became part of Rover in 1965, which ended the company's car manufacturing in 1967 to allow it to concentrate on the manufacture of armoured vehicles. In 1968 Rover and its Alvis subsidiary were incorporated into the
Leyland Motor Corporation later British Leyland or BL. In 1981 the then nationalised BL sold the Alvis business to United Scientific Holdings plc for £27 million. United Scientific was a manufacturer of military sighting products.In 1992 United Scientific adopted the name Alvis plc.
In October 1997 Alvis plc acquired Hägglunds to form Alvis Hagglunds AB. In September 1998 Alvis acquired the armoured vehicle business of GKN plc in a deal which saw GKN take a 29.9% stake in Alvis. GKN's shareholding was purchased by
BAE Systems in September 2003 for £73 million. BAE Systems plc (Sept. 02, 2003) [http://ir.baesystems.com/bae/news_presentations/news/2003/2003-09-02/ "BAE Systems completes purchase of GKN's 29% stake in Alvis"] . Press release]In early 2000 Alvis sold a share of its
Avimo Group optronics subsidiary toThomson-CSF and sold all of its remaining shareholding toThales Group (the renamed Thomson-CSF) in 2001.In 2002 Alvis acquired
Vickers Defence Systems from Rolls-Royce for £16 million to form Alvis Vickers [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2289545.stm "Vickers taken over by Alvis"] (Oct. 1, 2002) BBC News ] The acquisition of Vickers brought the Challenger tank into Alvis' portfolio, as well as Vickers' successful military bridging division and its South African subsidiary Vickers OMC.BAE takeover
In 2004, the board of Alvis approved a £309m takeover bid by the American defence company
General Dynamics . Within 3 monthsBAE Systems , which already had a 29% stake in the company, outbid General Dynamics by offering £355m. The action was seen as a defence of the home market from a foreign rival. David Mulholland ofJane's Defence Weekly said "I don't believe BAE expects to make money from this deal," characterising the purchase as strategic rather than commercial. The bid was accepted by the majority of shareholders. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3775713.stm "BAE triumphs in tank firm battle"] (June 4, 2004) BBC News]In
September 2004 , BAE announced the creation of BAE Systems Land Systems, a new company bringing together the BAE subsidiaries, BAE Systems RO Defence and Alvis Vickers. Alvis Vickers became BAE Systems Land Systems (Weapons & Vehicles) Limited, a subsidiary of BAE Systems Land Systems. In2005 , the acquisition ofUnited Defense led to the creation ofBAE Systems Land and Armaments .References
ee also
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Alvis Cars External links
* [http://www.earleyeng.co.uk/index50.php Earley Engineering - Alvis Sales and Restoration]
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