Despite the statements from Compagnie des Machines Bull SA’s chief executive Bernard Pache, it does not sound as if his plans will find a very ready ear in French government circles. Industry minister Gerard Longuet was quoted by Reuter on Friday as saying that the company must find new partners, and explore the possibility of further links with NEC Corp and a partnership in the microcomputer market. Asked by the daily Figaro in an interview about the possibility of a link-up with a US company, he said, Why not – I will tell you more about it in July. Longuet, who in early May gave Bull two months to come up with a viable strategy, said the essential elements of a plan are likely to be ready by the end of this month. He said that Zenith Data Systems was the priority because it was the biggest source of losses. One thing is certain, he declared emphatically, Bull has no future if it thinks that it can receive several billion francs in fresh capital from the state every year.
