Cambridge Technology to Enter Marketing Alliance With Microsoft
Cambridge, Massachusetts, Dec. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Cambridge Technology Partners Inc. will announce a
marketing alliance with No. 1 software company Microsoft Corp. tomorrow to expand its business of setting
up computer systems for large companies, analysts said.
The computer consulting company hopes to win more orders from customers using Microsoft's Windows NT
operating system, which is gaining ground on the Unix operating system.
In August, Cambridge issued 1.68 million shares, then valued at $54.6 million, to buy closely held Excell Data
Corp., which specializes in serving customers using the Microsoft platform. Excell is based in Bellevue,
Washington, near Microsoft's Redmond headquarters.
''They're evolving the company towards the Windows NT platform,'' said Richard Park, a Merrill Lynch &
Co. analyst who rates Cambridge near-term ''neutral'' and long-term ''accumulate.''
Cambridge has lost about half its market value this year after the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company
warned it can't maintain the 50 percent sales growth that analysts and investors expected.
Microsoft, which doesn't set up computer systems, has relationships with several consulting companies,
including KMPG Peat Marwick LLP and Andersen Consulting, said Rob Enderle, an analyst with market
researcher Giga Information Group.
Cambridge Technology shares rose 7/16 to 21 1/4. Microsoft shares fell 6 1/16 to 127 15/16.
17:33:42 12/14/1998
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