文章基本信息

标题：BAE sets sights on swift sale of Prestwick plant
作者：Mike Woodcock
期刊名称：The Sunday Herald
印刷版ISSN：1465-8771
出版年度：2002
卷号：Dec 8, 2002
出版社：Newsquest (Herald and Times) Ltd.

BAE sets sights on swift sale of Prestwick plant

Mike Woodcock

BAE Systems aims to complete the sale of its aerostructures division early next year, ending fears for the future of its Prestwick plant.

Engineering group GKN refused to comment on reports that it was ahead in the bidding for the division but is said to be watching developments closely.

BAE, which is seeking a quick sale, is expected to announce a preferred bidder by March.

BAE put the division up for sale last month sparking fears for the future of the workforce, 850 of whom work at Prestwick, with a further 350 at Samlesbury in Lancashire.

Swedish group Saab, in which BAE has a 35% stake, and Carlisle Group have also been linked with the sale.

A GKN source said it had not received information about the sale but that BAE Systems Aerostructures could offer a strategic fit within the company.

GKN, which has headquarters in London, has been able to capitalise on an increasing trend among aircraft manufacturers towards outsourcing aerostructure work. Its aerospace business has grown from an annual turnover of about (pounds) 100 million to (pounds) 630m in the last five years. The aerostructures division amounts to 40% of the group's (pounds) 4.5 billion turnover and its customers include Boeing, Airbus and Lockheed Martin.

Although it is is still early in the bidding process, the March deadline leaves little time, a fact not lost on local MPs who are pushing BAE Systems to give assurances over the future of the Prestwick workforce.

MPs Sandra Osborne, Brian Donohoe and George Foulkes and MSP John Scott met with Neil McManus, the aerostructures division's new managing director, at the Ayrshire plant last Friday following earlier talks with BAE Systems' chief executive Mike Turner in London.

Osborne said: "I'm certainly reassured that there is very strong interest in buying the company."

Lynne Blow, spokeswoman for BAE Systems Aerostructures, said it did not expect the sale to be completed until the second quarter of next year.

Blow also said that the workforce was a key element of the business and that BAE is keen to ensure potential buyers will take the business forward and not just "take it and break it".