Europe’s biggest computer leasing company, Econocom International BV, has established a Tokyo subsidiary to pioneer European-style computer leasing in Japan, and plans to come in with rates 30% to 40% lower than are currently charged by mainframe manufacturers. It also plans to finance other two other companies, one, a third party maintenance, installation consultancy and post-sales support for machines from the IBM 4381 down, that is due to open its doors in the autumn; and the other a software marketing company that will convert and sell European packages, starting operations in mid-1988. Econocom International BV is a new holding company formed last December as the parent for Econocom Inc of Memphis, Tennessee, and ECS International of Europe. The company is 80%-owned by chairman Jean-Louis Bouchard, and other shareholders include Paribas with 6%, and Credit Lyonnais, 3% (CI No 578).
