Fujitsu in $1.2-Billion Buyout of British Firm : Europe market: Japan maker looks to a foothold on the Continent with purchase of International Computers Ltd.

Japan’s leading computer manufacturer today announced it has agreed to pay $1.2 billion for Britain’s top computer maker. The buyout will make Fujitsu Ltd. the world’s second-largest computer company after IBM.

The purchase of International Computers Ltd. will also give Fujitsu a major sales and manufacturing foothold in Europe ahead of the creation of a single European market in 1992.

It will make Japan a major player in the European mainframe computer market for the first time. International Business Machines, based in Armonk, N.Y., now dominates that market.

Through the buyout the British mainframe manufacturer will acquire the funds and technology for its planned thrust into the European Continent.

There had been rumors for about a year about a possible equity tie between International Computers and Fujitsu, which already have technology links, according to London analysts. There also have been fears that such a deal could inflame nationalist sentiment in Britain.

International Computers, which now does 60% of its business in Britain, “already has said its intention was to expand to Europe. Fujitsu intends to support this intention,” said Michio Naruto, managing director and vice general manager of international operations for Fujitsu.

The acquisition is also a symbol of the $16.8-billion Japanese company’s emergence as a global computer maker, Naruto said.