Metrologie deal

CHS Electronics is expected to announce this week that it has bought the UK and French operation of Metrologie in a multimillion pound deal.

According to industry sources, the deal was due to be unveiled on 21 April. Metrologie's future has been hanging in the balance since February, when the ailing French distributor revealed it could not compete with the big European players and was looking to strike a merger or an alliance with another company.

As exclusively revealed in PC Dealer (25 March), Metrologie sold off 75 per cent of its German subsidiary to reseller services company Datura. The deal allowed Metrologie to keep a 25 per cent stake, but retain 100 per cent of the existing distribution business. The distributor has set up Metrologie Systems in Germany, which will concentrate on valued-added distribution.

CHS and Metrologie were not available for comment.