CompuServe Messages

Gary — Escom is big, much bigger than I realized at first. It has more than 200 retail stores in Germany and Central Europe, and has bought recently retail outlets in England. It also has a Japanese subsidiary. It is also the second largest computer maker in Germany, after Vobis. I am not sure I completely understand its corporate structure, but at least the computer unit is 10 percent owned by Siemens-Nixdorf. There may be other investment as well, possibly from Quelle. The best U.S. counterpart I can think of is Radio Shack in its heydey. It is a fast growing outfit with very deep pockets. I might also say I have personally found themrather nasty and uncooperative. There spokesman lied to me a few months back when I asked if they were interested in Commodore. He told me definitely not in a very unfriendly way. At the time, they were offering $12 million for the company. I have no knowledge of what their plans for the U.S. market is. These guys will do what suits them and the hell with everyone else. — Dan