The French defence electronic group THALES a signed an agreement with the American ORBITAL SCIENCES in view of acquiring, for EUR 80 million, two subsidiaries specialised in satellite navigation and positioning equipment and services MAGELLAN and NAVSOL, which in 2000 recorded a turnover of EUR 130 million. THALES is the largest European in this sector with a turnover of EUR 24 million in 2000. Thanks to this operation, it should be among the three largest groups in the world with a turnover...