Bull HN Information Systems Ltd has pledged further growth in the UK with increased partnership with Bull SA on the cards in Europe following the acquisition by Groupe Bull of a further 22.6% of Bull HN shares at the end of 1988. This pledge followed the news of Bull HN’s end of year results for the UK and Ireland which showed turnover up 15.4% to UKP225m but a decline in pre-tax profit, which was down 16.3% at UKP19.5m. The company shrugged off its profit performance pleading items associated with legal changes to the company and said that further growth in the UK would come from increased investment in software and applications development, which it predicts will rise 26.6% to UKP10m in the coming financial year. This investment will be channelled specifically into specialist solutions for the local government sector in the areas of community charge and housing benefits where the company already has a significant user-base of 100 local authorities. Bull HN has pulled off a number of public sector contracts over the past year, including the CHOTS and Trawlerman projects for the Ministry of Defence, as well as an order for a management information system for the Central Electricity Generating Board. As regards products, last year, of course, saw the launch of the DPS 9000 with the Eastern Electricity Board announced as its first UK customer. In the small systems products arena Unix sales rose five fold while the company’s Ultimate Pick business grew by over 50%. Meanwhile Bull Suisse has reported turnover up 15.5% to $81.8m which has enabled the Zurich-based division of Groupe Bull to employ 70 more people bringing the total number of employees up to 450.
