Husky Computers Ltd does not seem to be up for sale, despite recent press speculation to the contrary, according to recently adopted parents Addison Communications Plc. Addison now owns the Coventry-based maker of ruggedised portable computers after acquiring Husky’s previous owners, Aidcom International Plc, last September. However the evidence still points to an eventual sale of some kind: with the Addison Group having virtually no experience in the computer field, Husky will remain under its control only as long as management can run its own ship. There seems little doubt that Husky can look after itself and to date has an impressive track record in both growth and profits and in recognition of this, Addison leaves Husky well and truly alone. Valuing the company is a diffcult task as its financial figures are not reported separately in its owners’ accounts, but sales for the last year are thought to have reached UKP7m with profits of somewhere between UKP500,000 and UKP750,000. Joint managing director of Addison Steve Smith told us, We are aware that we have no experience in Husky’s field of operation but the company is an excellent performer and makes no demands on our management. There is therefore no reason for us to wish to sell it, but he went on to admit that should the right buyer come along and offer us the right money, we would sell Husky. We have had approaches from a small number of large computer and defence electronics groups but their terms have not been attractive yet. The company designs and manufactures ruggedised hand-held computers used primarily in defence applications and its flagship product, the Husky Hunter, has sold nearly 8,000 units since its launch in 1984. Husky’s customers include not only the UK Ministry of Defence but overseas defence forces as well as the major defence contractors in the UK including GEC and British Aerospace and it is within this latter group that a buyer is most likely to be found. Eighteen months ago when Husky was still under the ownership of the beleaguered Aidcom, it had been quite openly put up for sale as Aidcom management struggled to minimise its own cash problems by selling of its largest and most profitable subsidiary, eventually no buyer was found before Addison Communications put in its bid for Aidcom last year.
