Harris to Acquire Louth for $85M

By Tom Butts

Expanding its broadcast automation services, N/A (Melbourne, FL) is acquiring Louth Automation for $85 million in cash.

Harris is expected to integrate Louth's technology for its line of broadcast transmission, networked facility management, and broadband management tools. Louth has about $35 million in sales for 1999 and its products automate over 3,000 channels worldwide. Louth protocols are considered industry de facto standards for broadcast automation technology.

The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to be completed by January 2000. Headquartered in Palo Alto, with operations in England and France, Louth will become an independent business unit of Harris's Broadcast Communications Division.

Harris will maintain Louth's operations in Palo Alto, and has named Don Naab, VP of automation and management products, to head the business unit. Ken Louth, who founded the company in 1988, will serve as chief technology officer and Hayley Ditzler, another Harris exec, will serve as director of strategic planning for the automation business.

A Harris spokesperson said there will be "absolutely no layoffs" as a result of the acquisition. "Harris will invest in future growth for Louth including expanding customer service," says Harris's Martha Rapp. "Harris products have been built around the Louth protocol for the last six years."

"Louth Automation is key to positioning Harris as a leader in audio, video, and data management solutions for the 21st century," says Bruce Allen, Harris president and GM of the broadcast communications division. "While Harris will continue to expand its range of broadcast transmission and digital encoding products, this acquisition will give us essential new core competencies in automation and control."