Agilent to Buy NetworkFab

Agilent Technologies Inc. announced today it will acquire NetworkFab, a private defense contractor. The transaction, subject to standard closing conditions, is expected to close in 30 to 60 days, Agilent said. Financial details were not disclosed.

NetworkFab primarily designs technology involving radio frequency communications, including direction finding, jamming, antenna design, networking, software design and custom systems engineering. It will become part of Agilent’s Signal Networks Div., which is targeted to aerospace/defense, and will expand Agilent's "presence in operational environments to support US government prime contractors," Agilent said in a statement.

NetworkFab's 25 employees have all received job offers from Agilent, said Michele Drake, Agilent public relations manager. It will relocate its team from its current Santa Clara office to Agilent’s Santa Clara campus, about five miles away, in mid-September.

Tom Burrell, vice president and general manager of Agilent’s Signal Networks Div., said, “NetworkFab will bring world-class talent and state-of-the-art technologies to Agilent, strengthening our presence in the aerospace/defense market. We look forward to becoming a more significant supplier of SIGINT (signals intelligence) and EW (electronic warfare) subsystems, and NetworkFab will help us become a major player in this market.”

Rick Lu, president and CEO of NetworkFab, said, “The acquisition will help us accelerate our products and technologies to market and continue to serve our important government, military and intelligence customers. We will have a stronger market positioning to win both larger, and greater numbers, of jobs.”

Agilent also recently acquired Adaptif, a private maker of polarization analysis and control technology for testing optical components and systems in telecommunications, sensors and laser markets, for an undisclosed amount.

For more information, visit: www.agilent.com