MDB Founder Sells Interest to Lockheed

The founder of MDB Systems Inc., an Orange-based maker of computer data security systems, said Monday that he has sold his controlling interest in the firm to Lockheed Corp. for an undisclosed amount.

Amos R.L. Deacon Jr., who formed the Orange-based company in 1970, has resigned as chairman and director of the company’s board. He said he hopes to either start another high-technology company or work as a consultant in the area of computer data security.

“I am proud of the leading edge MDB has maintained over the past 20 years,” he said. “I am looking forward to developing an even stronger presence in the electronic arena.”

Lockheed, which previously held 35% interest in MDB, now owns about 80%, said Richard MacDonald, MDB’s chief executive and president.

Scott Hallman, a spokesman for Lockheed Corp. in Calabasas, said MDB has supplied Lockheed with removable secure mass storage products for computer systems since 1987, when Lockheed invested in the company.

“There’ll be no change in the longstanding relationship between Lockheed and MDB,” he said.

MacDonald said MDB, which has annual sales of about $30 million, will remain independent of other Lockheed operations, and the company’s management team and staff will remain in place.

The company will expand its product line this year, he said. The company expects to introduce large-scale disc array products, which provide backup memory capability to protect data from being lost or damaged.

“This is an emerging market which we wish to service,” MacDonald said. “Our growth will be in the commercial area, with a major thrust in the financial and manufacturing industries as well as sales to American and European government agencies.”