In a deal that would edge United Technologies Corp. closer to Boeing Co. among the largest U.S. aerospace companies, Hartford-based UTC reportedly is pursuing an acquisition of Goodrich Corp.
At deadline, UTC and Goodrich had yet to confirm negotiations that were reported by several major media outlets.
UTC is the largest corporate employer in Connecticut and Fairfield County, where its Stratford-based Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. subsidiary has the single largest manufacturing installation in Connecticut. Sikorsky revealed plans last week to cut up to 540 jobs, with many of those cuts likely to occur in its Stratford-area operations where it had more than 9,000 workers at last report.
Charlotte, N.C.-based Goodrich operates an optics and satellite imaging equipment manufacturing installation in Danbury that employs some 500 people. The facility won notice this year for a pilot project testing whether it could design and build a satellite in less than two months for a specific tactical military need identified by commanders in the field. The U.S. Air Force successfully launched that ORS-1 satellite in June.
A Goodrich combination would potentially launch UTC into several other aviation and aerospace lines, including aircraft interiors, landing gear and sensor systems meant to shield military aircraft and tanks from missiles.
Combined in the first half of 2011, UTC”™s and Goodrich”™s revenue totaled $32.3 billion, ahead of Boeing Co.”™s $31.5 billion, but UTC”™s total includes sales from Otis, Carrier and UTC Fire and Security, which focus on building systems.
