Will Form Basis For Sikorsky's European Operations

Big news regarding a storied Eastern European aircraft company... as Sikorsky Aircraft told ANN this week the company has agreed to acquire aircraft maker PZL Mielec from the Polish government. The American helicopter manufacturer says PZL Mielec will form the foundation of Sikorsky's European operations.

Sikorsky and the Polish government announced the contract during a ceremony in Warsaw Wednesday.

"Sikorsky has taken a major step toward becoming a leading member of the European aerospace community," said Sikorsky president Jeffrey Pino, Sikorsky's president. "This acquisition brings together two pioneering aerospace companies. Together, we will build on each others' strengths to create a world class aircraft manufacturer and service provider drawing upon Poland's great aerospace heritage and expertise."

Under the agreement Sikorsky will acquire a 100 percent stake in the company, which is based in the city of Mielec. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and pre-closing conditions.

PZL Mielec is Poland's largest fixed wing aircraft manufacturer with approximately 1,500 employees. The company is wholly owned by the Industrial Development Agency (known by the Polish acronym ARP), which is a government holding company under the Ministry of Treasury.

"This investment establishes PZL Mielec as a key component of Sikorsky's long-range global strategy to meet worldwide demand for its products and services," Pino said.

In 2006, Sikorsky announced plans to develop an International Black Hawk helicopter variant for global customers that would be manufactured using a global supply chain.

Upon completion of this acquisition Sikorsky plans to aggressively modernize the factory and tooling at PZL Mielec to support International Black Hawk production and continue the current capability for aircraft design, manufacture, flight test and delivery.

Through its subsidiaries, Sikorsky parent company UTC currently employs over 7,000 people in Poland, in the aerospace and building systems industries.

FMI: www.sikorsky.com, www.pzlmielec.pl/ang/index1.php