By ADAM GIFFORD
New Zealand IT pioneer Trevor Eagle, whose funeral will be held at St Patrick's Cathedral in Auckland this morning, was negotiating to sell his company when he died last week.
Mr Eagle's son, Eagle Technology general manager Craig Eagle, confirmed that his father was considering bids from three companies,
including listed technology company GDC Communications.
"Eagle Technology is constantly being courted by these takeovers. It's a prime target, being an independent Kiwi company," said Mr Eagle.
"A number of suitors have been talking to Eagle Technology, three at the time of Trevor's death, and it was something Trevor was handling personally. Everything is in a holding pattern until after the funeral. Then we'll see what else we need to cover."
Mr Eagle said that in the past his father had set a high price on the company, scaring off many bidders.
"Trevor was fiercely independent. Since the time he left IBM, he was certain he would not work for anyone else."
GDC chairman Stuart Johnstone refused to confirm Eagle Technology was a target, but the company was discussing acquisition opportunities.
"Over the past 15 months, we've looked at maybe 15 to 20 companies we are considering purchasing or merging with. As soon as we are in a position to go ahead, we will advise the stockmarket," said Mr Johnstone.
"We've discussed a lot of opportunities with a lot of people, but we've got nothing in position which makes an announcement imminent."
Since listing in April at $1.85, GDC shares have traded as high as $5, staying at around $3 over the past two months but climbing this week to close yesterday at $3.78.
Mr Johnstone said the movement was on small volumes. He would be surprised if any insider trading was going on, because of tight discipline within the company.
GDC designs, builds and services communications networks and systems. It has Telecom contracts to maintain phone services in specific regions and fix faults, and it has branched into managing customers' applications and telephone systems over the internet.
Eagle Technology has evolved into a systems integrator and supplier with expertise in a range of products, particularly geographic information systems. It has more than 170 staff in seven offices and service centres and a wholly owned subsidiary in Sydney.
