Compaq Sees Strength In Europe

Compaq Computer Corp said on Thursday it expects its merger with Digital Equipment Corp to strengthen both companies' positions in European markets, possibly at the expense of local firms like Germany's Siemens Nixdorf. The computer business is a global business. It is best to be a global competitor or to focus on speciality markets, said Compaq chief executive Eckhard Pfeiffer ahead of a news conference. He was responding to questions on what the merger would mean for computer companies that have little presence outside of Europe.