Datastream: Mergers and acquisitions roundup

BAE completes UDI acquisition

BAE Systems North America Inc.,

Rockville
,
Md.

, finished its $4.2 billion acquisition of United Defense Industries Inc. of

Arlington
,
Va.

BAE Systems is combining its land systems activities in the


United Kingdom

,

Sweden

and

South Africa

with UDI to form a new BAE Systems land and armaments operating group. The
group will produce integrated battlefield systems, military vehicles, artillery,
naval guns, missile launchers and precision munitions.

DRS buys Walkabout Computers

DRS Technologies Inc. acquired WalkAbout Computers Inc.,

West Palm Beach
,
Fla.

The value of the all-cash deal was not disclosed.

WalkAbout, which makes rugged tablet PCs and walking
stations for use in harsh environments by the military and other sectors, is
expected to generate between $20 million to $25 million in annual revenue in its
first 12 months of operation under DRS ownership.

Microsoft providers merge operations

Planet Technologies Inc. and eQuest Technologies Inc. have
merged, with the new company to be called Planet Technologies.

Financial details of the merger were not disclosed, but the
new company has about $11 million in annual revenue and 90 employees focused on
government and commercial customers.

Both companies are in

Germantown
,
Md.

, and specialize in Microsoft deployments for government. In 1999, the two
developed a strategic partnership to facilitate business development and
knowledge sharing.