Brooke Sutherland, Columnist

Pricey Rockwell Collins Bid Only Makes Sense on Opposite Day

United Technologies would be breaking its deal discipline to go after the avionics maker.

August 7, 2017 at 11:30 AM UTC

Brooke Sutherland is Bloomberg News' Boston bureau chief and writes the Industrial Strength Newsletter. She was previously a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering deals and industrial companies and an M&A reporter for Bloomberg News.

1502044785_pic — Photographer: MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images

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Warning: A Rockwell Collins Inc. takeover is apt to cause altitude sickness.

Shares of the maker of avionics and cabin interiors spiked in late trading on Friday after Bloomberg News reported United Technologies Corp. was considering buying the $19 billion company. The idea of a Rockwell Collins purchase isn't new. Last year, Starboard Value reportedly pushed management to pursue a sale rather than proceed with a takeover of airplane seat-maker B/E Aerospace (that deal closed in April). But it's jarring to see United Technologies thinking seriously about it.