Vickers plc
| Company type | Public limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Engineering, Defence, Automotive, Marine engineering |
| Predecessor | Vickers-Armstrongs |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Fate | Acquired by Rolls-Royce plc in 1999; brand phased out in 2003 |
| Successor | Vinters Engineering (brand renamed by Rolls-Royce), Alvis Vickers (defence subsidiary) |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Land warfare equipment (Challenger tanks), automotive engineering (Rolls-Royce Motors, Cosworth), marine engineering (Kamewa, Ulstein) |
| Parent | Rolls-Royce plc (from 1999) |
Vickers plc represented the surviving entity of Vickers-Armstrongs following the 1977 nationalisation of its aviation interests (including a 50% stake in British Aircraft Corporation since 1960), shipbuilding operations (Vickers Limited Shipbuilding Group), and steel manufacturing activities. In 1999, it was acquired by Rolls-Royce plc, and the Vickers name was phased out in 2003 when Rolls-Royce rebranded it as Vinters Engineering.
History
Established in 1977 from what remained of Vickers-Armstrongs after the government took control of its aviation, shipbuilding, and steel sectors, the Vickers brand itself traced its origins back to 1867 with the Vickers family’s steel foundry and industrial conglomerate based in Sheffield.
During the 1980s, Vickers diversified into automotive engineering—most notably through the acquisition of Rolls-Royce Motors—as well as expanding its footprint in defence by acquiring Royal Ordnance Factory Leeds, and entering marine engineering via purchases of Kamewa Waterjets and the Norwegian Ulstein Group.
In 1999, Rolls-Royce plc acquired Vickers plc for £576 million, largely to gain its marine engineering businesses. By 2002, Vickers Defence Systems was divested to Alvis plc, which established the subsidiary Alvis Vickers. The following year, Rolls-Royce renamed its Vickers subsidiaries under the banner Vinters Engineering plc. Meanwhile, the Vickers brand persisted within Alvis Vickers.
In 2004, US defence corporation General Dynamics proposed a £309 million takeover of Alvis but was surpassed by BAE Systems, which offered £355 million. BAE Systems then streamlined its defence assets by merging RO Defence with Alvis Vickers to form BAE Systems Land Systems, effectively retiring the Vickers name after a legacy spanning 176 years. The acquisition of United Defense in 2005 led to the creation of BAE Systems Land and Armaments Group.
Automotive engineering
Vickers plc entered automotive engineering in 1980 by acquiring Rolls-Royce Motors. Earlier, Rolls-Royce Limited had purchased the Bristol Aeroplane in 1966 primarily for its engine division but retained a 20% interest in BAC alongside Vickers Armstrong and English Electric (EE). Following Rolls-Royce’s bankruptcy in 1971, both Vickers and EE’s parent company, GEC, acquired these shares from receivership. In 1990, Vickers further expanded by acquiring the automotive engineering firm Cosworth.
By 1998, Vickers exited the automotive sector, divesting Cosworth and Rolls-Royce Motors to the Volkswagen Group. The sale of Rolls-Royce Motors involved intricate legal disputes over trademarks with BMW and Rolls-Royce plc.
Defence
In 1986, Vickers expanded into defence by purchasing Royal Ordnance Factory Leeds, forming Vickers Defence Systems, which concentrated on land warfare equipment including the development of the Challenger 1 tank. This platform evolved into the Challenger 2, which became the principal main battle tank for both the British Army and Oman. In 1999, Vickers acquired South African defence manufacturer OMC (previously Reumech) and rebranded it as Vickers OMC. This business was sold to BAE Systems in 2004.
Marine engineering
From 1970 onwards, Vickers owned Scottish firm Brown Brothers, specializing in marine steering systems and stabilisers. The company expanded marine engineering capabilities by acquiring Swedish waterjet producer Kamewa in 1986 and Norwegian marine propulsion specialist Ulstein in 1998. These entities were integrated under the name Vickers Ulstein Marine.