Industry Icon Key Matchmaker in Merger of Northrop, TRW Aerospace: Simon the nation's first intercontinental not be identified, said Ramo was ballistic missiles. instrumental in working behind Ramo, 89, saw benefits Simon Ramo, 89, who co- the scenes to bring the haggling of the marriage early founded TRW in the 1950s, is companies together, often acting credited with helping bring to- as the "sounding board" and ulti- on. gether Northrop Grumman and mately a key source of intelli- TRW, making him one of the old- gence for both sides. By PETER PAE est matchmakers in corporate Northrop Chairman Kent Kresa America. TIMES STAFF WRITER was coy about Ramo's exact role, After more than four months of but acknowledged that Ramo The $7.8-billion merger be- wrangling, Northrop and TRW "certainly understood the impor- tween Northrop Grumman Corp. struck a friendly deal earlier this tance of the marriage" and "he and TRW Inc. had all the players month to create the nation's sec- talks to a lot of people and he's in- typical in a big corporate deal: ond-largest military contractor. It volved in everything." Wall Street bankers, lawyers and culminated Northrop's remark- Ramo declined to comment top corporate executives. able transformation from a strug- about the scope of his involve- But a key role in orchestrating gling bit player to a defense in- ment, saying only that "acquisi- the deal was played by someone dustry powerhouse. tions and mergers are always un- unrecognized as being a power Ramo retired from TRW nearly der discussion." broker, a man-many years older a quarter century ago. But execu- "I know a lot of people in the in- AWRENCE Ho / Los Angeles Times than Pope John Paul II-who un- tives and directors for both dustry. Many of them worked for til recently was known for his vio- Northrop and TRW, most of me, SO when they call and ask for Simon Ramo, the "R" in TRW says of his role in its merger with Northrop: "I know a lot of people in lin playing and as an architect of whom spoke on condition they Please see RAMO, C14 the industry. Many of them worked for me, so when they call and ask for advice, I give it to them." Times 7/30/02