In what amounts to a calculated snub to SD-Scicon Plc, where it has just sold its 25% stake, British Aerospace Plc has now chosen to Scicon’s rival Sema Group Plc as its software partner, forming BAe-Sema Ltd to bid for large defence software contracts in Europe, the Far East and the Middle East. BAe-Sema, which will be equally-owned, will major on consultancy, project management and computer systems for warships; British Aerospace will pay UKP9.8m for its stake in the venture, which will take in Sema’s Yard and Sema Scientific companies, and Sema’s stake in Dowty-Sema Ltd. Of the 1,500 employees, 1,300 will come from Sema, 200 from British Aerospace’s own start-up company.
