Dow Jones International News
Copyright (c) 2000, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Friday, June 2, 2000
Microsoft Offered Move To Canada As Problems Mount-BBC
LONDON -(Dow Jones)- As the US software giant Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) waits to hear whether an American judge will order its breakup, the company is being encouraged to relocate to Canada by authorities in British Colombia, the BBC reported Friday.
The authorities are promising favorable treatment, which may include a loan to build new headquarters if Microsoft agrees to move its operations 100 miles further north, to the other side of the Canadian border.
Microsoft currently has around 20,000 employees in Seattle. Transferring its headquarters could have a devastating effect on the economy of the north-west corner of the U.S. But it would also frustrate the U.S. authorities' attempts to break the company up.
The Canadians see Microsoft's current battle with the U.S. government as an opportunity to attract one of the world's most valuable companies.
In a statement released to the BBC, the man in charge of attracting investment to British Columbia, Gordon Wilson, said Microsoft would be what he called "a welcome asset".
It is rumored his officials may have engaged in secret discussions with Microsoft. But the company itself denies this, saying it is focusing on fighting any plans for a breakup through the courts.
The judge, hearing a long running antimonopoly case against Microsoft, is expected to announce his conclusions within the next few weeks. |
