Acquisitions are still on the Thales agenda as the rebranded aerospace, defence and information technology group aims to boost profits by 50% and sales by 25% over the coming year.
"We will continue to aim at targets," says Jean-Robert Martin, chief executive of Thales' defence business area. "We are always ready to look at possibilities if they reinforce market share and profitability. We don't want to just add volume."
Martin is confident about the prospects of the new group, which sprang from the old Thomson-CSF six months ago. "We were perceived as a French defence company," he recalls. "The reality is completely different - 50% of our employees are not French. And only half our business is defence. So now we are a multinational, civil-military company."
Approach
Thales is strongly promoting its "multi-domestic" approach to markets around the world, with its operations in the UK typical of how a global company like Thales can capitalise on a strong local presence.
"A year ago we bought Racal, which had two big effects," says Martin. "We are now present as the second-largest defence supplier in the UK. This confirms our multi-dimensional approach to the defence business - Thales is a citizen of the country."
Prime contracting is now a growing area for Thales, which in the Thomson-CSF days had a reputation had a supplier of sub-systems. "Our new dimensions, new size and new skills enable us to be a prime contractor in the UK," says Martin. "We are one of three worldwide contenders on the very important Bowman digital communications project, and we are also competing on the UK tanker. "
Source: Flight Daily News