A team of high-level executives from Compagnie des Machines Bull SA are on their way to Tokyo for discussions with Japan’s NEC Corp on all aspects of their ongoing relationship – and speculation is rising in Paris that NEC will raise its 4.43% stake to something approaching control. According to Les Echos, the talks are aimed at sounding out NEC’s intentions in the coming sale of the state-controlled company. Bull management is preparing for a rapid sale and hopes to see industrial and trade partners taking a large stake in the group, while not excluding other possible shareholders, such as banks. State-owned France Telecom has 17% of Bull, and apart from a stake of about 1% held by IBM Corp and a vestigial stake traded on the Paris Bourse, the balance is held direct by the state.
