Redwood City, California Digital Equipment Corp VAX applications software specialist Ross Systems Inc is to acquire Pioneer Computer Group Ltd, developer of the Promix integrated manufacturing information system for the process industries that is marketed in the UK by SD-Scicon Plc (CI No 1,548), and of the GemBase applications development environment. Ross proposes to pay 790,000 shares, worth about $8.3m, for Pioneer, which had turnover of UKP6.2m for the year to last October; Ross reckons the deal will make it the largest VAX software supplier in the UK, and $11m in annual sales will be a significant addition to its business – it did $49m in the year to January. Pioneer also markets in Australia and New Zealand.
