Martin, based in
Baltimore, was primarily an
aerospace concern with a recent focus on
missiles, namely its
Titan program. This program was established in 1955 when the company secured the U.S. Air Force contract to build the country's second intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).[2] American-Marietta was headquartered in
Chicago and produced paints, dyes, metallurgical products, construction materials, and other goods.[3][4][5][6]
In 1982, Martin Marietta was subject to a hostile takeover bid by the
Bendix Corporation, headed by
William Agee. Bendix bought the majority of Martin Marietta shares and in effect owned the company. However, Martin Marietta's management used the short time separating ownership and control to sell non-core businesses and launch its own hostile takeover of Bendix (known as the
Pac-Man defense).[7][8] Thomas G. Pownall, CEO of Martin Marietta, was successful and the end of this extraordinarily bitter battle saw Martin Marietta survive; Bendix was bought by
Allied Corporation.[8][9][10]
1975: Acquires
Hoskyns Group (UK IT services company)
1982:
Bendix Corporation's attempted takeover ends in its own sale to Allied Corporation; Martin Marietta survives[13][14]
1986: Wins contract to convert
Titan IIICBMs into space launch vehicles. The Martin Company built the original ICBMs
1987: Electronics & Missiles Group formed, headquartered in
Orlando
1991: Electronics & Missiles Group reorganized into the Electronics, Information & Missiles Group
1993: Acquires
GE Aerospace for 3 billion
USD, allowing combined marketing of complementary systems, e.g. Martin Marietta's Titan missiles launching GE Aerospace's satellites
^Blevins, Tim (2011). Enterprise & Innovation in the Pikes Peak Region. Colorado Springs, CO: Pikes Peak Library District. p. 189.
ISBN978-1-56735-302-0.
^Danilov, Victor J. (2013). Famous Americans: A Directory of Museums, Historic Sites, and Memorials. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. p. 75.
ISBN978-0-8108-9186-9.