Following a series of protracted discussions Fremont, California disk drive and peripherals manufacturer Sysgen Inc has bought multi-user MS-DOS micro builder North Star Computers Ltd for an undisclosed sum (CI No 1,061). Based in Cork, Ireland North Star was placed in receivership by Foir Teoranta, the state body established to help manufacturing companies that have hit hard times, having received UKPIr800,000 in aid. It had enjoyed considerable success in Europe, which grew to represent 80% of total business, but ran into trouble when its American parent suffered from a number of bad debts and eventually folded. The new company, re-christened Sysgen Ltd, plans to employ all the existing 40 to 50 North Star staff and shipments have restarted. A Sysgen spokesman said the company had been anxious to expand into systems as well as acquiring a foothold in Europe before 1992, and North Star represented an obvious choice.. The deal was backed by Ireland’s Industrial Development Authority in the form of grants and aid. Sysgen says it plans further investment for the company and hopes to expand to 150 staff by 1993.
