Northrop Grumman Corporation announced that it has forwarded a proposal to TRW's board of directors to enter into negotiations to combine the two companies. The proposed transaction would deliver $47 in value of Northrop Grumman common stock for each share of TRW.
Ronald D. Sugar, Northrop Grumman's president and chief operating officer, stated "this transaction would strengthen our portfolio, and would bring together the advanced technologies and extraordinary human talent of both companies. With the integration of our 2001 acquisitions largely behind us, we are confident that our management, in conjunction with the leadership of TRW, can quickly and successfully integrate the defense and aerospace businesses of Northrop Grumman and TRW."
Promptly following the close of the transaction, Northrop Grumman would expect to separate TRW's automotive business. Excluding TRW's automotive business, Northrop Grumman projects combined 2003 sales of approximately $26 billion to $27 billion. The impact of this transaction is expected to be neutral to Northrop Grumman shareholders when considering the earnings delivered by both the retained and automotive businesses.
Including the effects of this transaction, Northrop Grumman would expect to have a debt to total capitalization ratio below 40 percent at 2002 year-end.
TRW provides advanced-technology products and services for the aerospace, information systems and automotive markets worldwide. The company generated year-end 2001 sales of $16.4 billion.