Sybase sheds jobs in attempt to boost figures

Sybase has cut its workforce by about eight per cent in an attempt to maintain its recent return to profit. The database vendor has laid off approximately 400 people as part of a wider shake-up, which has divided the company into four divisions. In December, Sybase broke the company into four divisions, Internet applications, business intelligence, mobile and embedded computing to try and refocus the company. It faces stiff competition in the database arena. The US company has managed to crawl back to profitability, but has failed to show revenue growth. Sales were down to $210 million for the quarter ended 30 September 1998, against $233 million the previous year. Next week the company will report its results for the quarter ending December. ®