Pacific Scientific to Sell Unit to Sanyo

Pacific Scientific Co. of Newport Beach said it will sell its Automation Intelligence Inc. unit to Japan’s Sanyo Denki Co. Ltd., resulting in a $3.5-million fourth-quarter charge, primarily from writing off goodwill. Financial terms were not disclosed. Automation Intelligence integrates motor and control systems for large machines used in factory automation. Sanyo Denki makes electrical equipment such as cooling fans. Sanyo Denki was previously a licensee of software produced by Automation Intelligence, which had 1996 sales of $7.6 million. Pacific Scientific stock closed unchanged at $23.56.