The Saia-Burgess electronics group, based in Murten in canton Fribourg, is acquiring the Ledex and Dormeyer companies from the United States TRW technology group.

The acquisition, which will become effective at the end of the year, is valued at $56 million (SFr95.2 million).

In North America, the Ledex and Dormeyer companies are the leading supplier of actuators (linear and rotary solenoids) and subsystems, with a market share of 36 per cent.

A statement said the acquisition would push Saia-Burgess' sales in North America to more than SFr120 million. It added that the continent would then account for 26 per cent of total sales, up from eight per cent now.

In 2001, Saia-Burgess expects total group sales to be in excess of SFr500 million, including the Ledex and Dormeyer companies.

The acquisition increases the share of Saia-Burgess industry activities from 49 to 58 per cent of group sales.

The group's products have a wide field of industrial market applications in medium-scale manufacturing (computers, safety engineering and automation) and in mass production for domestic appliances.

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