Harris to buy air traffic control business
ATLANTA (Reuters) - U.S. communications equipment maker Harris Corp (HRS.N) moved to expand its air traffic control business in international markets on Thursday by announcing a definitive agreement to buy a business unit of Canada's SolaCom Technologies Inc.
The acquisition of the Air Traffic Control division of privately held SolaCom is expected to be completed by the end of this month. Terms weren't disclosed.
The business to be acquired provides voice and data communication services for more than 200 customers on six continents, Harris said in a statement.
Harris, which has about $5 billion in annual revenue, told Reuters earlier this year that it was actively looking for takeover candidates.
In April, the company said it agreed to buy Tyco Electronics Ltd's (TEL.N) wireless systems business for $675 million, expanding in the market for land mobile radio systems.
Harris, based in Melbourne, Florida, said its latest acquisition would further position it to support the next-generation air traffic control system of the Federal Aviation Administration.
Harris is the prime contractor for the $3.5 billion, 15-year FAA telecommunications infrastructure program. That work includes upgrading and improving telecommunications at more than 4,000 FAA facilities.
Harris also provides the FAA's voice switching control system, which allows air traffic controllers to establish communications with pilots and other controllers.
(Reporting by Karen Jacobs, editing by Leslie Gevirtz)
