Despite recent remarks by the Italian Minister of Industry, some sceptics remain unconvinced that the obstacles to a partnership between Olivetti Information Systems, Ing C Olivetti & Co SpA’s software and services arm, and the state-owned Finsiel SpA have been overcome. Massimo Pini, the socialist member of Gruppo IRI, Finsiel’s parent, claims that IRI has received proposals neither from the government nor de Benedetti since last October. That proposal mooted the possibility of the smaller Olivetti Information Systems taking over Finsiel, and Pini declares that he finds the proposal no less incomprehensible now than he did back in October.
