Siemens beats rivals to #1m Scottish deal

German manufacturer Siemens, in partnership with CRS Computer Systems, has landed a #1 million contract to launch 2,000 PCs in schools in Scotland, pipping a number of leading hardware brands.

Every school in Fife will receive 18 Scenic Pro C6 and two Scenic Pro D6 PCs running Microsoft Works 4.5 and Microsoft Office Pro 97, replacing their existing Amstrad 1640 computers.

It was understood that Siemens managed to beat Mitsubishi, Compaq, Tulip and Opus to win the Fife Council education service deal.

The contract comes at the same time as Siemens won approval from its shareholders to implement a business plan to sharpen international competitiveness and boost its shareholder value, despite calls from shareholders for the resignation of chairman Heinrich von Pierer.

As part of the restructuring measures, Siemens will prepare to list itself on the US stock exchange during the first half of 2001. It is set to buy back up to 10 per cent of its shares - worth DM 297.4 million; increase authorised capital to DM350 million to a total of DM 500 million; start reporting in euros; make supervisory board members' pay subject to the share price rather than the dividend; and to offer share options to its 500 top managers.

Von Pierer promised shareholders and analysts a different company by the year 2001, adding: 'Siemens is, and will remain, an electronical engineering and electronics company.'

Siemens is keen to gain a US listing because it will allow it to acquire US businesses through share swaps.