It may be less visible than the ageing mainframers and superannuated continental national champions, but French microcomputer manufacturer SMT-Goupil SA is in just as much need of bailing out as are the likes of Groupe Bull SA, and according to 01 Informatique, France is once again about to turn to Siemens AG, which has already bailed out another French second liner, Intertechnique Informatique SA. According to 01, after a difficult year in 1990 and months of seeking out a partner, SMT-Goupil is now in advanced discussions with Siemens, as well as with various financial institutions, about a capital injection. The situation has become urgent – the company simply can’t go on alone, and the tension among the 1,050 staff is mounting as pay-day is put back – a tell-tale sign of financial hardship. The release of the company’s financial results for 1990 left no doubt as to the company’s position – the group’s core computer activities contributed only $140m of revenues for the 15-month period to March when it had been looking for around $220m for 1990 alone.The company’s problems are put down to a severe slowdown in the micro market last year, to over-extending itself by acquiring Sfena-DSI, Normerel and Forum International over three years, and to over-dependence on the French public sector, which accounted for 70% of Goupil’s business but was squeezed when Bull acquired Zenith Data Systems, creating another natural and hun gry contender for public sector con tracts. Siemens was not the only name suggested as a potential investor in Goupil: NEC Corp was also considered but Siemens seems to have the votes.
