The imminent creation of MBDA will lead to the reorganisation of the company's French centres of manufacturing excellence
Paris, 23 February 2001
The Central Works Council of EADS France met earlier today in Paris to inform employee and union representatives of the imminent signature of an agreement for the creation of MBDA. It is expected that this agreement will be signed within the next few days by EADS, BAE SYSTEMS and Finmeccanica, the three shareholders in the future European missile systems company. The move marks a decisive step in the process of consolidating the European defence sector. The creation of MBDA remains subject to agreement by the appropriate authorities.
Two other Central Works Councils, at Matra BAe Dynamics France in Vélizy and Aerospatiale Matra Missiles in Châtillon, also met simultaneously to discuss the same subject.
As part of an ongoing policy of transparency and continued dialogue with staff and their representatives, the management teams of all three member companies called these meetings to inform the employee and union representatives of the outline for the future reorganisation by MBDA of its manufacturing facilities in France, following the merger of Matra BAe Dynamics and EADS Aerospatiale Matra Missiles. The combined strengths of these two companies provides an unprecedented opportunity to create a manufacturing base in France that will be competitive, profitable and durably efficient in the longer term in the face of American competition in the defence industry.
The move is part of the plan for change launched earlier this year by EADS and its Defence and Civil Systems Division (DCS) and aimed at building the basis for a significant profit growth. This plan is also a logical continuation of actions already undertaken by Aerospatiale Matra Missiles to match its resources to its cost base and for which an AS-FNE request for the French "Région Centre" has been made to the appropriate authorities.
As part of the creation of MBDA, all these actions will be supported by the setting up of French skill-based centres of manufacturing excellence in the missile technologies, which will have the critical mass necessary to ensure their long-term futures.
The main principles applied to concentrating EADS' strengths into these new centres of manufacturing excellence will enable:
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The creation at Bourges airport of a major major Mechanical Centre:
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This will centralise all mechanical and electromechanical equipment production activities. This reorganisation of manufacturing activities will require the transfer of activities and jobs from the Salbris site to Bourges.
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The recent order for 60 Airbus A300-600F cargo aircraft confirms the continued commitment to aircraft production at Bourges.
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In general terms, the number of jobs at Bourges at the end of the reorganisation procedure will be stabilised.
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The strengthening of the Electronics Production Centre at Matra Electronique in Compiègne (a wholly owned subsidiary of MBDA) through the transfer of activities and jobs from Bourges.
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The electronic engineering facilities at Bourges and in the Paris region will be maintained.
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The creation of a missile, weapon systems and testing Integration Centre shared between Selles-St-Denis and Bourges Subdray, following the transfer of activities and jobs from Bourges Engins.
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The Parisian sites of Vélizy la Source, Vélizy le Bois and Châtillon will retain their current areas of expertise, but will be regrouped by major divisions.
These broad outlines will act as a basis for developing and implementing the reorganisation plan for MBDA in France and, in accordance with current legislation and the traditional practice of the Group, will be the subject of full consultation with employee representative organisations.
Press Contacts:
EADS
Roland Sanguinetti
Tel.: 33 1 42 24 24 26
Fax: 33 1 42 24 23 28
e-mail: presse@eads.net
MBD
Frédéric Aragon
Tel.: 33 1 34 88 27 55
Fax: 33 1 34 88 27 27
e-mail: faragon@matra-def.fr
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