UTC Selects Bidders for $3B Sale of Chubb Fire & Security, Report Says
Anonymous sources told Bloomberg UTC has received offers from Apax Partners and PAI Partners, as well as a joint bid from Eurazeo SE and Rhone Capital.
Although UTC is in talks to sell its fire safety and security business, no final decisions have been made, sources told Bloomberg.
FARMINGTON, Conn. — United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) is starting the final round of an auction for its fire safety and security business, Bloomberg reported Thursday.
The industrial conglomerate, based here, has received offers from Apax Partners and PAI Partners, as well as a joint bid from Eurazeo SE and Rhone Capital, anonymous sources told Bloomberg. The people familiar with the transaction asked not to be identified because the discussions are private, Bloomberg said.
The asset could fetch about $3 billion, one of the sources said.
No final decisions have been made and the bidders may decide against buying the asset or UTC may decide against a sale, they told Bloomberg. A representative for UTC, as well as representatives for the bidders, declined to comment.
UTC, which operates jet engine, elevator and HVAC businesses, is weighing a breakup after it completes a $23 billion deal for Rockwell Collins that will create an aerospace behemoth. That plan has been publicly supported by two activist shareholders, Third Point’s Dan Loeb and Pershing Square Capital Management’s Bill Ackman, Bloomberg reported.
The fire safety business manufactures sprinklers, smoke detectors and video surveillance equipment, and provides services such as training and maintenance, according to its website. Its brands include Chubb, Fireye and Kidde, among others.
On Sept. 14, UTC CEO Greg Hayes said the company would announce a decision within 60 days about whether to break up, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Chubb is a leading global provider of fire safety and security solutions for an array of vertical markets, including banking and finance, commercial and offices, education, government, healthcare and more.
Chubb was acquired by UTC for about $1 billion in 2003, and is now part of the company’s climate, controls and security division. Reuters noted that UTC as of late has been battling for market share with rivals Securitas AB and Tyco Int’l. Tyco was acquired by Johnson Controls Int’l two years ago for $16.5 billion.
In September, UTC reached an agreement to acquire S2 Security, a leading developer of unified security and video management solutions. S2 Security, based in Framingham, Mass., was founded by John Moss in 2002. The company provides enterprise physical security solutions, including access control, video surveillance, event monitoring, digital signage, live Internet sourced real-time data and information feeds, mobile applications and Cloud-based services.
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About the Author
Rodney Bosch, Senior Editor
Although Bosch’s name is quite familiar to those in the security industry, his previous experience has been in daily newspaper journalism. Prior to joining SECURITY SALES & INTEGRATION in 2006, he spent 15 years with the Los Angeles Times, where he performed a wide assortment of editorial responsibilities, including feature and metro department assignments as well as content producing for latimes.com. Bosch is a graduate of California State University, Fresno with a degree in Mass Communication & Journalism. In 2007, he successfully completed the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association’s National Training School coursework to become a Certified Level I Alarm Technician.
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