Editing Thomson-CSF

{{Short description|Electronics and defence contractor}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name             = Thomson-CSF
| logo             = THOMSON-CSF.png
| logo_size        = 200px
| type             = [[S.A. (corporation)|Société Anonyme]]
| genre            = 
| fate             = 
| predecessor      = 
| successor        = [[Thales Group]]
| foundation       = {{Start date and age|1968}}
| founder          =
| defunct          = {{End date and age|2000}}
| location_city    = [[La Défense]]
| location_country = France
| location         = 
| locations        = 
| area_served      = Worldwide
| key_people       = 
| industry         = [[Aerospace]] <br> [[Defense industry|Defence]] <br> [[Electronics]]
| products         = [[Avionics]], [[radio]]s, [[radar]]s and more
| services         = 
| market cap       = 
| revenue          = 
| operating_income = 
| net_income       = 
| assets           = 
| equity           = 
| owner            = 
| num_employees    = 
| parent           = 
| divisions        = 
| subsid           = 
| footnotes        = 
| website          = {{URL|www.thomson-csf.com}}
}}

'''Thomson-CSF''' was a French company that specialized in the development and manufacture of [[electronics]] with a heavy focus upon the [[aerospace]] and [[defence (military)|defence]] sectors of the market.

Thomson-CSF was formed in 1968 following the merger of  [[Hotchkiss-Brandt|Thomson-Houston-Hotchkiss-Brandt]] with the [[Compagnie Générale de Télégraphie Sans Fil]] (''General Wireless Telegraphy Company'', commonly abbreviated as ''CSF''), these two companies being the source of the name ''Thomson-CSF''. It operated as an electronics specialist on products such as [[broadcasting]] equipment, [[Acoustical engineering#Electroacoustics|electroacoustics]], [[shortwave radio]] sets, [[radar]] systems and [[television]]. During the 1970s, it began manufacturing [[Telephone exchange|backend telephony]] equipment, [[semiconductor]]s and [[medical imaging]] apparatus. It also entered into large deals outside of the domestic market, acquiring considerable business in the [[Middle East]].

During the late 1980s, Thomson-CSF, anticipating defence spending cutbacks, conducted a radical business restructuring, merging its semiconductor interests with those of the [[Italy|Italian]] defence group [[Finmeccanica]] and exchanging its medical imaging technology for [[General Electric]]'s consumer electronics businesses. In the latter decades of operation, it built itself into a [[multinational corporation]]. During 1989, it acquired [[Philips]]' defence electronics business, [[Thales Nederland|Hollandse Signaalapparaten B.V]]. In 1999, the company was [[privatised]], but not before divesting its consumer electronics businesses. Shortly after, it took over the British defence electronics company [[Racal|Racal Electronics]]. 

In December 2000, Thomson-CSF was rebranded [[Thales Group]].

==History==
Thomson-CSF traces its origins to the formation of the American business [[Thomson-Houston Electric Company]] by [[Elihu Thomson]] and [[Edwin Houston]] in 1879. On 15 April 1892, the Thomson-Houston Electric Company merged with its rival, the [[Edison General Electric Company]], to form [[General Electric]] (GE). That same year, the company formed an overseas subsidiary, named ''Thomson Houston International'', based in France. In 1893, ''Compagnie Française Thomson-Houston'' (CFTH) was established as a partner to GE. CFTH's operations centered around the application of GE's [[patent]]s in the growing [[electricity generation]] and [[power transmission|transmission]] industry.<ref name = "official history"/> The modern Thomson companies evolved from this company.<ref name = "official history">{{cite web | url = https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/global/group/history | title = History | publisher = [[Thales Group]] | access-date = 15 March 2020}}</ref>
[[File:Vintage Thomson-CSF Electronics NPC Transistor Radio, Model NP1741, AM Band, 6 Transistors, Measures 3.5 Inches Tall, Made In Hong Kong, Circa 1972.jpg|thumb|Thomson-CSF pocket radio (1972)]]
In 1966, CFTH merged with armaments and vehicle manufacturer [[Hotchkiss-Brandt]] to form ''Thomson-Houston-Hotchkiss-Brandt'', which was subsequently renamed ''Thomson-Brandt''. Two years later, the electronics business of Thomson-Brandt merged with [[Compagnie Générale de Télégraphie Sans Fil]] (''General Wireless Telegraphy Company'', commonly abbreviated as ''CSF'') to form ''Thomson-CSF''.<ref name = "official history"/> Prior to the merger, CSF had operated as a pioneer in the fields of [[broadcasting]], [[Acoustical engineering#Electroacoustics|electroacoustics]], [[shortwave radio]], [[radar]] systems and [[television]].<ref name = "official history"/> Thomson Brandt maintained a significant shareholding in the merged company (approximately 40%).

In the 1970s, Thomson-CSF received its first major contract in the [[Middle East]]ern market. In this period the company diversified into several new sectors, leading to it manufacturing [[Telephone exchange|backend telephony]] equipment, [[semiconductor]]s and [[medical imaging]] apparatus.<ref name = "official history"/> By the early 1980s Thomson-CSF was in a weak financial position with a high level of debt. While it possessed a diversified portfolio of businesses, its market share within the majority of these many sectors was viewed as being too small to be realistically profitable despite increasing business from overseas buyers.<ref name = "official history"/>

In 1982, both Thomson-Brandt and Thomson-CSF were [[nationalised]] by France's [[François Mitterrand|Mitterrand government]]. As a consequence, Thomson-Brandt was renamed ''[[Thomson SA]]'' (Société Anonyme) and merged with Thomson-CSF. Throughout the 1980s, the company's financial position improved dramatically as undertook a major reorganisation, focusing its efforts on the production of electronics for professional and defence customers.<ref name = "official history"/>

In 1983, it divested ''Thomson-CSF Téléphone '', its civil [[telecommunication]]s division, to telecommunications specialist [[Alcatel]]. Four years later, its semiconductor interests were merged with those of the [[Italy|Italian]] defence group [[Finmeccanica]].<ref name = "official history"/> That same year, Thomson-CSF's medical imaging technology was exchanged with GE for GE's [[RCA]] and consumer electronics businesses.<ref name = "official history"/>

[[File:Thomson CSF Cyrano IV-001.jpg|thumb|Thomson-CSF Cyrano IV airborne radar as used on the [[Dassault Mirage F1]]]]
In the late 1980s, Thomson-CSF, anticipating future defence spending cutbacks and a downturn in its lucrative export contracts, initiated a restructuring of its businesses with the aim of maintaining its margins.<ref name = "official history"/> A policy of proactive external growth was adopted, focusing on the European market. Between 1976 and 1987, the company's non-French subsidiaries' share of consolidated revenues rose from 5% to 25%. In 1988, a new division, ''Thomson Consumer Electronics'' was formed. In 1995, this division was rebranded as ''Thomson Multimedia''.<ref name = "official history"/> In 1989, it acquired [[Philips]]' defence electronics business, [[Thales Nederland|Hollandse Signaalapparaten B.V.]] During the 1990s, Thomson-CSF gained a controlling interest in ''Sextant Avionique'', which was formed by the merger of the company's avionics business with that of French aircraft manufacturer [[Aérospatiale]].<ref name = "official history"/> The company also divested its interests in the French [[bank]] [[Crédit Lyonnais]] and semiconductor manufacturer [[STMicroelectronics|SGSThomson]].<ref name = "official history"/>

During the late 1990s, [[Prime Minister of France|French Prime Minister]] [[Lionel Jospin]]'s [[Plural Left]] government initiated a policy of [[privatisation]] of several state-owned companies, including Thomson-CSF.<ref>Godsmark, Chris and John Lichfield. [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/airbus-set-for-privatisation-as-france-abandons-objection-1247827.html "Airbus set for privatisation as France abandons objection."] ''[[The Independent]]'', 28 August 1997.</ref><ref>[http://discours.vie-publique.fr/notices/993002629.html "Déclaration de M. Lionel Jospin, Premier ministre, sur le regroupement d'Aérospatiale-Matra et de Dasa et sur son importance pour la construction européenne dans les domaines de l'aéronautique civile et militaire, Strasbourg le 14 octobre 1999."] ''discours.vie-publique.fr'', 14 October 1999.</ref> In April 1998, several of the affected companies, including Aérospatiale, Alcatel, [[Dassault Industries]], Thomson-CSF and Thomson SA reached a cooperation agreement endorsed by the French government. Several of these terms brought about a major restructuring of Thomson-CSF. Firstly, the professional and defence electronics businesses of Alcatel and ''Dassault Électronique'' were merged with Thomson-CSF.<ref name = "official history"/> Secondly, satellite businesses of Alcatel, Aerospatiale and Thomson-CSF are merged to form a new entity, [[Thales Alenia Space|Alcatel Space]]; this was jointly owned by Alcatel and Thomson-CSF.<ref name = "official history"/>
[[File:Angle attack sensor hg.jpg|thumb|Commercial aircraft [[Angle of attack sensor|Angle of Attack Sensor]], made by Thomson-CSF]]
By June 1998, implementation of the finalised agreement had commenced.<ref name="official history" /> The majority of Thomson-CSF's capital was transferred into private ownership. The French State reduced its holding in the company from 58% to 40%. At the time, Thomson-CSF's principal private shareholders were Alcatel and Dassault Industries.<ref name="official history" /> The division of the company's consumer electronics and defence businesses prior to [[privatisation]] brought about the creation of ''Thomson Multimedia'', which was a distinct entity from Thomson-CSF. The independently-operating Thomson Multimedia has since been restructured and trades as [[Technicolor SA]].<ref name="official history" />

Following its privatisation, Thomson-CSF continued to orient itself toward the defence electronics sector, establishing itself in overseas nations, including [[South Africa]], [[Australia]], [[South Korea]] and [[Singapore]].<ref name = "official history"/> Shortly after its privatisation, the company began exploring the possibility of merging with British defence specialist [[Marconi Electronic Systems]]. Its ambitions were foiled by the success of a rival bid by the defence and aerospace firm [[British Aerospace]], which rebranded itself as [[BAE Systems]] shortly thereafter. Keen to expand its defence and technology business, Thomson-CSF announced the acquisition of the British defence electronics company [[Racal|Racal Electronics]], which it purchased for £1.3&nbsp;billion. As a result of its takeover of Racal, the UK became Thomson-CSF's second-largest domestic industrial base after France. Racal was initially rebranded ''Thomson-CSF Racal plc''.<ref name = "official history"/>

Shortly after the Racal acquisition, Thomson-CSF conducted a strategic review of its portfolio of businesses. It adopted a new organisational structure comprising three business areas: defence, aerospace and [[information technology]].<ref name = "official history"/> Management decided that the company ought to leverage its dual-purpose technology, marketing itself at particular civil markets that held strong parallels with its established defence and aerospace competencies, such as mobile telecommunications. Meanwhile, non-strategic assets were divested.<ref name = "official history"/> Thomson-CSF also explored business opportunities further afield. In December 2000, it was announced that the company was forming a joint venture with the American defence company [[Raytheon]]. This arrangement was claimed to be first transatlantic joint venture in the defence sector.<ref name = "official history"/>

In December 2000, Thomson-CSF was officially rebranded as ''Thales'' (from the Greek philosopher [[Thales]], pronounced {{IPA|fr|talɛs|}} reflecting its pronunciation in [[French language|French]]).<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.aerospaceonline.com/doc/thomson-csf-changes-name-to-thales-0001 | title=Thomson-CSF changes name to Thales | website=www.aerospaceonline.com | language=en | access-date= 4 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://money.cnn.com/2000/12/06/europe/thales/ | title=Thomson-CSF to become Thales | date = 6 December 2000 | website=money.cnn.com | access-date=4 December 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Vantiva]], which Thompson-CSF was a part of, when Vantiva was known as the Thomson Group
*[[STMicroelectronics]], formed by the merger of Thompson-CSF's semiconductor business (Thomson Semiconducteurs) with an Italian semiconductor company

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book | last=Jean-Pierre | first=Thierry | author-link=Thierry Jean-Pierre | date=16 October 2003 | title=Taïwan Connection : Scandales et meurtres au cœur de la République | trans-title=Taiwan Connection – Scandals and Murders at the Heart of the Republic | language=fr | publisher=Robert Laffont | isbn=978-2221100820}}
* ''L'entreprise partagée ? Une pratique différente des relations sociales : l'expérience Thomson-CSF'', Robert Thomas (pseudonym for a team-work with Pierre Beretti and [[Jean-Pierre Thiollet]]), Paris, Maxima-Laurent du Mesnil Ed., 1999

{{Thales Group}}

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[[Category:Avionics companies]]
[[Category:Defunct manufacturing companies of France]]
[[Category:Technicolor SA]]
[[Category:Thales Group]]
[[Category:French companies established in 1968]]