meanwhile, unknown to ferranti-packard, ferranti in the uk had decided to cut their losses and exit the commercial computer business. in early 1963, they approached international computers and tabulators with the proposal to sell off their commercial division. perhaps unsurprisingly, ict found the proposal unattractive. when they learned of the fp-6000 their attitude changed, and they eventually agreed to the purchase under the stipulation that rights to the fp-6000 would be transferred from canada. the fp-6000 then became the basis for ict 1900 series machines, which eventually sold into the thousands.