# Laird plc
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Short description|Defunct British technology company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Laird
| logo =Laird Logo with slogan.jpg
| logo_size =200px
| type = [Public](/source/Public_company)
| traded_as = {{lse|LRD}}
| industry = [Electronics](/source/Electronics)
| founded = 1824
| location = [London](/source/London), [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom)
| key_people = Dr Martin Read CBE [Chairman](/source/Chair_(official))
Tony Quinlan [CEO](/source/Chief_Executive_Officer)
| products =
| revenue = [£](/source/Pound_sterling)936.6 million (2017)[{{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}}]
| operating_income = [£](/source/Pound_sterling)63.8 million (2017)[
| net_income = [£](/source/Pound_sterling)71.8 million (2017)][
| 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](/source/United_Kingdom)-based electronics and technology business. It was listed on the [London Stock Exchange](/source/London_Stock_Exchange) until it was acquired by [Advent International](/source/Advent_International) in July 2018.
==History==
The company was founded by [John Laird](/source/John_Laird_(shipbuilder)) in 1824 as ''Birkenhead Ironworks'' in [Birkenhead](/source/Birkenhead), [Wirral](/source/Wirral_Peninsula).][{{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}}] In 1903 it merged with [Charles Cammell & Company Limited](/source/Charles_Cammell_%26_Company_Limited) and, as ''[Cammell Laird](/source/Cammell_Laird)'', went on to build numerous [ships](/source/ships) for the [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy).[ In 1976 its transport division, which traded as ''[Metro-Cammell](/source/Metro-Cammell)'', secured a major order to build [mass transit](/source/mass_transit) railway carriages for the [Hong Kong Mass Transit System](/source/MTR).][{{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}}]
In 1977 its [shipbuilding](/source/shipbuilding) business was [nationalise](/source/nationalise)d and in 1989 it disposed of its [mass transit railway](/source/mass_transit) activities.[{{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}}] In the 1980s it moved into [security](/source/security) products and in the 1990s into [electronics](/source/electronics). In 2000 it disposed of its [automotive](/source/automotive) industry activities[{{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}}] and more recently, in 2007, it disposed of its [security](/source/security) business to [Lupus Capital](/source/Tyman).[{{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}}] In 2008 it changed its name from ''Laird Group PLC'' to ''Laird PLC''.[{{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}}]
The company subsequently expanded in electronics with acquisitions such as Wisconsin based LS Research in November 2015[{{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}}] and German based Novero in December 2015.[{{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}}]
In March 2018 [Advent International](/source/Advent_International) made an offer for the company valuing at £1 billion.[{{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}}] The transaction was completed in July 2018.[{{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}}]
Advent subsequently broke Laird up, selling Laird Connected Vehicles to [Molex Electronic Technologies](/source/Molex) in September 2018,[{{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}}] Laird Thermal Systems to Bregal Unternehmerk in July 2021,[{{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}}] Laird Performance Materials to [DuPont](/source/DuPont) also in July 2021,[{{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}}] and Laird Antennas to [TE Connectivity](/source/TE_Connectivity) in November 2021.[{{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}}]
==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
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Laird plc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laird_plc) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laird_plc?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.