Ferranti - Current Ownership of Former Ferranti Businesses

Current Ownership of Former Ferranti Businesses

Ferranti Autocourt

acquired by Wayne Dresser, renamed to Wayne Autocourt, before Autocourt name dropped

Ferranti Communications

acquired by Thorn and branded Thorn Communications and Telecontrol Systems (CATS). Later acquired by Tyco International and renamed Tyco Communications. Still operating under the name TS Technology Services.

Ferranti Computer Systems

the Belgian subsidiary lives on as Ferranti Computer Systems and is now part of the Nijkerk Holding. The remainder was acquired out of administration by SYSECA, the IT arm of Thomson-CSF and renamed Ferranti-SYSECA Ltd, later the Ferranti was dropped and when Thomson changed its name to Thales, SYSECA became Thales Information Systems. Thales Information Systems later sold its German interest to Consinto Gmbh. The department dealing with airport systems was bought by Datel in around 1995 and continued to trade under the name Ferranti Airport Systems until it was bought by Ultra Electronics. Other parts of Ferranti Computer Systems were acquired out of administration by GEC-Marconi, when GEC-Marconi sold on its defence related businesses to BAE Systems many of these former Ferranti entities became part of the BAE/Finmeccanica joint venture called Alenia Marconi Systems. The JV has now been dissolved and the former Ferranti entities are now part of BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies (Insyte).

Ferranti Defence Systems

acquired by GEC-Marconi out of administration and renamed GEC Ferranti, later changing to GEC Marconi Avionics (GMAv). This business was acquired in 2000 by BAE Systems (BAE Systems Avionics). Part of this business, including the heritage Ferranti operation, was acquired by Finmeccanica in 2007 and renamed SELEX Galileo.

Ferranti Dynamics

acquired by GEC-Marconi in 1992

Ferranti Instrumentation

dissolved. Some assets acquired by GEC-Marconi and Ravenfield Designs

Ferranti Satcomms

acquired out of administration by Matra Marconi Space in 1994

Ferranti Technologies

was bought out by management and continues in Oldham specialising in avionics, defence electronics, and electronic power systems. It was acquired by Elbit Systems in 2007.

Ferranti Air Systems

acquired by Datel then turned into an independent company. Later bought by Ultra Electronics

Ferranti Thomson Sonar Systems

50% share acquired by GEC-Marconi. Now owned by Thales and renamed Thales Underwater Systems.

Ferranti Helicopters

acquired by British Caledonian Airways in April 1979 to become British Caledonian Helicopters which was in turn acquired by Bristow Helicopters in 1987

Ferranti Subsea Systems

Management buyout in the early 1990s, renamed FSSL. Kværner bought more shares in 1994 and then turned to Kværner FSSL. Kværner is now known as Aker Solutions

Ferranti Computer Systems Service Department

This was acquired by the third party maintenance company ServiceTec. The regional Service Centres were rebranded as ServiceTec and all of the service engineers and management were taken on. The support of the Argus computers dominated activities although new (non-Argus) business was added to the regional centres. The repair centre at Cairo Mill also became part of the ServiceTec group, ultimately as a separate entity.

Ferranti Semiconductors

became Zetex Semiconductors after a management buyout in 1989. In 2008 it was acquired by Diodes Inc.

Ferranti Photonics Ltd.

independent, liquidated after bankruptcy in 2005