DEC yesterday announced that it was following in IBM’s footsteps by making its first investment in an applications and computer services firm – but one well away from its home base. The target is accountancy profession and small business management software specialist Cegid Informatique SA, and the investment, equivalent to about $5m for a 5% stake, is being made by DEC France SA. Financial institutions also contribued to the round of funding, made to enable Cegid to finance faster growth. The company has 8,600 VAX minicomputer systems installed. Cegid Informatique is a subsidiary of Cegid SA, which is quoted on the Bourse de Lyon.
