Control Data has finally given up completely on its idea of turning its scientific supercomputer business into a freestanding company in which it is no more than a major shareholder – it originally wanted outside investors to take up to 50% but had to settle for only a small minority of the shares held by the principals – and has merged ETA with its Cyber mainframe business. The move is expected to lead to a cut in the ETA workforce at its St Paul, Minnesota headquarters and could save $20m a year; its president, Carl Ledbetter, has been reassigned to a marketing post at the new computer products group. Sale of a minority stake in its new Imprimis Technology disk drive business, or putting it in a joint venture with another company is also on the cards, and details could be announced any day now, observers say.
