Having talked to many on both sides, the positioning of the company is a major factor in why people own this stock. They are squarely between HWP and DEC in the conversion of VAX's to UNIX. DEC knows that they have a dying asset, and is trying to convert the customer base to an open platform, as they make the code conversion, or at a later date. By signing a contract with ACLY, they are trying to keep HWP from their clients. HWP has made it obvious that they want to steal the DEC base and convert them to HWP. They will probably have to sign an agreement with ACLY also to compete with DEC on a 1 to 1 basis, which will make DEC very nervous. Then the question arises, and Im not talking about from a point of knowing something specific, only from a business perspective, does DEC buy ACLY in order to keep HWP from competing, or does HWP buy ACLY in order to see all of the DEC customers through the DEC purchases? I'd love to answer the question, but I cant any more than anyone else can. Industry consultants agree on the envious strategic position that ACLY has, Vis these two players, and that there are really no other players of merit.
Good luck.
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