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{{Short description|Defunct British technology company}} {{Infobox company | name = Laird | logo =Laird Logo with slogan.jpg | logo_size =200px | type = Public | traded_as = {{lse|LRD}} | industry = Electronics | founded = 1824 | location = London, United Kingdom | key_people = Dr Martin Read CBE Chairman<br />Tony Quinlan CEO | products = | revenue = £936.6 million (2017)<ref name=prelims>{{cite web|url=http://www.laird-plc.com/~/media/Files/L/Laird-IR/press-releases/laird-plc-full-year-results-2017.pdf |publisher=Laird plc|title=Preliminary Results 2017|accessdate=30 May 2017}}</ref> | operating_income = £63.8 million (2017)<ref name=prelims/> | net_income = £71.8 million (2017)<ref name=prelims/> | num_employees = | fate = Acquired | defunct = 2018 | parent = | subsidiaries = | footnotes = | website = [http://www.laird-plc.com www.laird-plc.com] | slogan = }}
'''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.
==History== The company was founded by John Laird in 1824 as ''Birkenhead Ironworks'' in Birkenhead, Wirral.<ref name=echo>{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/cammell-laird-day-two-fall-3572157|title=Cammell Laird day two: The fall and rise of a maritime giant|publisher=Liverpool Echo|date=30 April 2013|accessdate=20 January 2015}}</ref> In 1903 it merged with Charles Cammell & Company Limited and, as ''Cammell Laird'', went on to build numerous ships for the Royal Navy.<ref name=echo/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kMRsaUoXXD8C&q=metro+cammell+order+hong+kong+metro&pg=PA632|title=Metro's well tried technology|publisher=New Scientist|date=8 December 1977|accessdate=20 January 2015}}</ref>
In 1977 its shipbuilding business was nationalised and in 1989 it disposed of its mass transit railway activities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metcam.co.uk.nstempintl.com/history.htm|title=A Brief History of the Metropolitan Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Ltd 1845-1945|accessdate=20 January 2015}}</ref> In the 1980s it moved into security products and in the 1990s into electronics. In 2000 it disposed of its automotive industry activities<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/trelleborg-to-buy-lairds-components/284417.article|title=Trelleborg to buy Laird's components|publisher=The Engineer|date=15 November 2000|accessdate=20 January 2015}}</ref> and more recently, in 2007, it disposed of its security business to Lupus Capital.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diyweek.net/news/news.asp?id=10452&title=Laird+Group+waits+for+shareholder+approval |title=Laird Group waits for shareholder approval|publisher=DIY Week|date=5 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043452/http://www.diyweek.net/news/news.asp?id=10452&title=Laird+Group+waits+for+shareholder+approval|accessdate=20 January 2015|archive-date=2016-03-04}}</ref> In 2008 it changed its name from ''Laird Group PLC'' to ''Laird PLC''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.investegate.co.uk/article.aspx?id=200805091519211156U|title=The Laird Group PLC Annual General Meeting|date=9 May 2008|accessdate=20 January 2015}}</ref>
The company subsequently expanded in electronics with acquisitions such as Wisconsin based LS Research in November 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iii.co.uk/stockmarketwire/279126/laird-acquires-ls-research|title=Laird Acquires LS Research|publisher=Interactive Investor|date=24 November 2015|accessdate=10 February 2015}}</ref> and German based Novero in December 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/laird-plc-acquisition-of-novero-for-e65-million/412687676|title=Laird PLC Acquisition of Novero for €65 million|publisher=Directors Talk Interviews|date=18 December 2015|accessdate=10 February 2015}}</ref>
In March 2018 Advent International made an offer for the company valuing at £1 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/news/AN_1519890906454935000/top-news-laird-agrees-gbp1-billion-advent-takeover-after-strong-2017.aspx|title=Laird Agrees GBP1 Billion Advent Takeover After Strong 2017|date=1 March 2018|publisher=Morning Star|accessdate=27 June 2018}}</ref> The transaction was completed in July 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.investegate.co.uk/laird-plc/rns/cancellation-of-listing/201807020847062144T/|title=Laird plc: cancellation of listing|accessdate=2 July 2018}}</ref>
Advent subsequently broke Laird up, selling Laird Connected Vehicles to Molex Electronic Technologies in September 2018,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aftermarketnews.com/molex-to-acquire-laird-connected-vehicle-solutions-division/ |title=Molex To Acquire Laird Connected Vehicle Solutions Division|date=28 September 2018|newspaper=After Market News|access-date=18 July 2023}}</ref> Laird Thermal Systems to Bregal Unternehmerk in July 2021,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.unquote.com/dach/official-record/3024597/bregal-acquires-advent-backed-laird-thermal-systems|title=Bregal acquires Advent-backed Laird Thermal Systems|date=27 July 2021|newspaper=Unquote|access-date=18 July 2023}}</ref> Laird Performance Materials to DuPont also in July 2021,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.adhesivesmag.com/articles/98716-dupont-completes-laird-performance-materials-acquisition|title=DuPont Completes Laird Performance Materials Acquisition|date=19 July 2021|newspaper=Adhesives Magazine|access-date=18 July 2023}}</ref> and Laird Antennas to TE Connectivity in November 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dcadvisory.com/news-deals-insights/deal-announcements/dc-advisory-advised-advent-international-on-the-sale-of-laird-antennas-to-te-connectivity/|title=DC Advisory advised Advent International on the sale of Laird Antennas to TE Connectivity|date=1 November 2021|publisher=DC Advisory|access-date=18 July 2023}}</ref>
==Operations== thumb|Laird's offices at 100 Pall Mall The company's had operations organised as follows: * Performance Materials * Wireless and Thermal Systems * Connected Vehicle Solutions
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.laird-plc.com Official site] * [https://www.lairdtech.com/ Lairdtech.com]
Category:Defunct companies based in London Category:1824 establishments in England Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1824 Category:British companies established in 1824