Softbank forms joint venture with U.S. software giant

Softbank S.A. and one of the world's largest software producers U.S.-based Computer Associates International (CA) signed a letter of intent creating a joint venture company which will offer e-business services. The services will include high-speed internet access and software sales over the internet. CA will have 51% shares in the yet unnamed company and Softbank will hold 49%. "We want to offer the same technologies in our region as CA offers in the West. The fact that the internet is not that developed in Poland, as it is in for example in the U.S., gives us a good chance," said Softbank CEO Aleksander Lesz. Signing the agreement with CA will end the problem of finding a strategic investor for Softbank for a while. "CA is our investor and I do not plan to introduce any new ones in the nearest future," said Lesz. "It sounds really interesting and it seems that Softbank plans to develop the new technologies based on the experience of a good partner," said ING Barings analysts Benita Mikolajewicz. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 1, 4) M.M.