Kubota Corp, already a major investor in Stardent Computer Inc and a shareholder in MIPS Computer Systems Inc, has further extended its computer interests by paying $3.4m for a 5.2% stake in Tricord Systems Inc of Minneapolis. Tricord specialises in 80486-based Powerframe servers that compete with Compaq Computer Corp’s Systempro, and under the agreement, Kubota will make the server under licence in Japan, starting in July. It will market the machine as the Tricord Superserver and looks for first year sales of $4.5m. Tricord raised $8m in its second round of financing late last year, and with the new deal has won total venture capital finance of over $20m (CI No 1,567).
