Laird plc

Laird plc was a leading British-based electronics and technology business. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange until it was acquired by Advent International in July 2018.

Laird
TypePublic
LSE: LRD
IndustryElectronics
FateAcquired
Founded1824
Defunct2018
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
Key people
Dr Martin Read CBE Chairman
Tony Quinlan CEO
Revenue£936.6 million (2017)[1]
£63.8 million (2017)[1]
£71.8 million (2017)[1]
Websitewww.laird-plc.com

History

The company was founded by John Laird in 1824 as Birkenhead Ironworks in Liverpool.[2] In 1903 it merged with Charles Cammell & Company Limited and, as Cammell Laird, went on to build numerous ships for the Royal Navy.[2] In 1976 its transport division, which traded as Metro-Cammell, secured a major order to build mass transit railway carriages for the Hong Kong Mass Transit System.[3]

In 1977 its shipbuilding business was nationalised and in 1989 it disposed of its mass transit railway activities.[4] In the 1980s it moved into security products and in the 1990s into electronics. In 2000 it disposed of its automotive industry activities[5] and more recently, in 2007, it disposed of its security business.[6] In 2008 it changed its name from Laird Group PLC to Laird PLC.[7]

More recently the company has expanded in electronics with acquisitions such as Wisconsin based LS Research in November 2015[8] and German based Novero in December 2015.[9]

In March 2018 Advent International made an offer for the company valuing at £1 billion.[10] The transaction was completed in July 2018.[11]

Operations
Lard's offices at 100 Pall Mall

The company's has operations organised as follows:

  • Performance Materials
  • Wireless and Thermal Systems
  • Connected Vehicle Solutions

References
  1. "Preliminary Results 2017" (PDF). Laird plc. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  2. "Cammell Laird day two: The fall and rise of a maritime giant". Liverpool Echo. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  3. "Metro's well tried technology". New Scientist. 8 December 1977. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  4. "A Brief History of the Metropolitan Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Ltd 1845-1945". Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  5. "Trelleborg to buy Laird's components". The Engineer. 15 November 2000. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  6. "Laird Group waits for shareholder approval". DIY Week. 5 April 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  7. "The Laird Group PLC Annual General Meeting". 9 May 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  8. "Laird Acquires LS Research". Interactive Investor. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  9. "Laird PLC Acquisition of Novero for €65 million". Directors Talk Interviews. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  10. "Laird Agrees GBP1 Billion Advent Takeover After Strong 2017". Morning Star. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  11. "Laird plc: cancellation of listing". Retrieved 2 July 2018.
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