CA ANNOUNCES DEALS IN SWEDEN AND INDONESIA

Islandia-based Computer Associates reported that Vattenfall Data has selected CA's Unicenter TNG, an enterprise management solution, to monitor its production computing environment.

According to CA officials, Vattenfall Data will utilize Unicenter TNG to manage its information technology environment which incorporates Windows NT, HP-UX, Sun Solaris, Silicon Graphics Irix and Digital Unix platforms in a TCO/IP network.

Vattenfall Data is the information technology subsidiary of Vattenfall Group, Sweden's largest energy group and one of Europe's largest energy providers.

In related news, CA announced PT Astra, an Indonesian conglomerate, atlas created a multimedia automotive shopping experience utilizing CNs Jasmine object-oriented database. The new application will allow PT Astra to display, promote and market its range of Toyota cars to the Indonesian marketplace.
Lufthansa increases interest in Hudson

Great Neck-based Hudson General Corp., a service provider at airports throughout the U.S. and Canada, has been advised that the supervisory board of Deutsche Lufthansa approved the exercise by LAGS, an indirect subsidiary of Lufthansa, to increase its interest in Hudson General LLC from 26 percent to 49 percent.

According to Hudson General officials, the company expects notice regarding the option from LAGS on or about Oct. 1. The price of the option is estimated at $29.6 million.

LAGS acquired its initial 26 percent interest in Hudson General LLC in February 1996. To date, Hudson General Corp. has maintained its 74 percent interest in Hudson General LLC.
The high costs of driving

A recent report released by Wisconsin-based Runzheimer International places New York near the top in regard to annual driving costs.

The study looked at 105 metropolitan areas. It took into account standard operating and ownership costs using a Ford Taurus as the test vehicle. It was driven 15,000 miles per year within a 50-mile radius of those metropolitan areas. For New York City, Runzheimer found it costs $7,808 per year to operate the Taurus. Only Los Angeles and Philadelphia had higher costs.

In comparison, the same vehicle driven in and around Sioux Falls, S. D. costs only $5,813 a year. According to Runzheimer officials, the major cause in the cost differential is insurance and vehicle taxes. For example, the annual insurance premium for the Taurus in Los Angeles was $2,800. In Sioux Falls it was only $700.
Vehicle insurance rates dropping

State Superintendent of Insurance Neil Levin announced that six of the largest automobile insurance writers in the state have decreased their rates.