These big U.S. firms are pondering spinoffs

Article Excerpt

UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP. $134 (New York symbol UTX; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares o/s: 798.6 million; Market cap: $107.0 billion; Takeover Target Rating: Lowest; Dividend yield: 2.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.utc.com) has four main businesses: Climate, Controls & Security makes Carrier heating and air-conditioning equipment, and burglar alarms and firesafety products; Pratt & Whitney manufactures aircraft engines; Aerospace Systems makes engine-control systems and other aircraft parts; and Otis makes elevators and escalators. The company will now buy Rockwell Collins Inc. (New York symbol COL). That firm is a leading maker of aircraft components such as cabin interiors, computerized flight controls and air-toground communications equipment. Under the terms of the offer, Rockwell investors will receive $140.00 a share, consisting of $93.33 in cash (66.7% of the total) and $46.67 worth of United Technologies shares (33.3%). Altogether, it will pay $30 billion. That includes Rockwell’s debt of $7 billion. The combined company will have annual revenue of about $68 billion. It expects to cut…