The German computer and office systems industry is suddenly restructuring almost as fast as what used to be East Germany, and after the collapse of Nixdorf Computer into the arms of Siemens AG, and Mannesmann AG’s announcement that it was looking for a partner to take its Mannesmann Kienzle arm off its hands, AEG AG said yesterday that it was looking for a partner for that chronic lossmaker, office systems and equipment manufacturer Olympiawerke GmbH. AEG, in which Daimler Benz AG has a controlling stake, says that drastic price-cutting in the office equipment is causing Olympia to bleed: sales at the company for the first eight months of this year were down 6% at the equivalent of $235m. The company employs 6,180 people, and the first name on everyone’s lips as a possible partner will be Ing C Olivetti & Co SpA, but having had to impose several years of severe pain to get its last German acquisition, Triumph-Adler AG, back on an even keel, the Italian may not be keen to embark on another one.
