Further to the announcement made on 28 May 2003, Cobham plc confirms that it has now completed the acquisition of the business and assets of Northrop Grumman’s Litton Life Support unit (‘Life Support’). The agreed consideration of $73 million has been paid in cash, subject to final adjustment, and has been funded from Cobham’s existing cash resources.

Life Support, located in Davenport, Iowa, designs and manufactures air separation systems for military and commercial aircraft, medical and industrial applications and is a leader in the application of gas separation technology and the design of cryogenic coolers. Its turnover in the financial year ended 31 December 2002 was $43.7 million, earning pre-tax profits of $9.8 million and it had net assets as of 30 April 2003 of $11.6 million.