UK notebook maker Tadpole's shares suspended

Shares in UK high-end portable PC firm Tadpole Technology were suspended yesterday as the company said it awaited the closure of a big transaction. Analysts say a sale of all or part of the firm could be in the offing.

Cambridge-based Tadpole, founded in 1983, has a history of losses despite a reputation for excellence in engineering its Intel-, Sun SPARC- and Digital Alpha-based portable PCs that are aimed at CAD, Unix and other niches.

PCDN Comment: As its name suggests, Tadpole has remained a minnow despite being tipped as a hot stock in the early 1990s when IBM made a large investment. The firm still manufactures boards in Cambridge Science Park, has its own final assembly operation in Texas, and has direct sales offices in France and Germany. Sun, which is a reseller, or Digital would be obvious partners.