palat@motcid.UUCP (Mohan Palat) (09/20/90)
>From: hallman@ingres.com (David Hallman) >Subject: Re: Ingres acquisition by ASK Computers >Organization: Ingres Corporation, Alameda CA 94501 > >No Way! > >The following quotes from Sandra Kurtzig emphasizes the ASK commitment. > >September 18, 1990 > >"ASK offered to purchase Ingres because [ASK] believes strongly in the >business potential for [Ingres] products as a standalone business..." > >"[Ingres'] Customers and prospects should understand and believe that we >at ASK are committed to continuing to support them, once the acquisition >is completed, and that we intend to continue to build the Ingres business..." That's what they all say just after an acquisition, although that's not the way it always turns out in the end. Didn't Frank Lorenzo make similar assertions after acquiring Eastern - turns out he was more interested in transferring Eastern's assets to Texas Air. And didn't Ames Corp. make very reassuring statements when they acquired Zayre Corp. - well, they are all closed down now (at least out here). I can see the scenerio - ASK will try to impose their corporate culture on Ingres, many key developers will get frustrated and switch companies, Ingres will steadily lose the market share, and finally ASK will announce that "because of declining market share and continued losses, we have decided to merge Ingres with ASK." M. Palat