Agilent sells network solutions business to JDSU

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) has signed a definitive agreement to sell its network solutions business to JDSU (Nasdaq: JDSU) for $165 million in cash.

Subject to regulatory approval, the transaction is expected to be final in June, according to a company announcement Thursday.

The sale includes Agilent’s network assurance solutions, network protocol test and drive test products. Amy Flores, Agilent spokeswoman, said the deal will impact some employees in Loveland, Englewood and Colorado Springs.

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“At all three sites in Colorado, it will affect about 108 employees,” Flores said. Agilent’s Loveland facility employs about 500. “Almost everyone will be offered jobs with JDSU.”

Agilent’s network solutions business employs about 700 people in Colorado, the U.K., Singapore and China.

Flores said “nothing will change” when it comes to building signage or other public aspects related to the sale. Agilent’s network solutions business had annual revenue of $162 million in its fiscal year 2009 that ended Oct. 31. Agilent said in a press statement that it was selling “because it believes the business and its customers will be better served by a company that is focused exclusively on communications network test.”

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with JDSU for the sale of our network solutions business,´ said Ron Nersesian, president of Agilent’s Electronic Measurement Group. “We believe JDSU is an excellent fit for this business. Their leadership and commitment to this market will benefit our customers and employees, and we are committed to a smooth transition over the coming few months.”

Milpitas, Calif,-based JDSU is a provider of communications test and measurement solutions and optical products for telecommunications service providers, cable operators and network equipment manufacturers.

“This acquisition establishes JDSU as a market leader in wireless test instruments and systems and enables us to provide customers with new innovative LTE (Long Term Evolution, or 4G) solutions as they deploy this next-generation mobile data technology,´ said Tom Waechter, JDSU president and CEO. “JDSU gains market-leading technology and a talented employee team that will fit well with JDSU’s customer-centric culture.”