Investors sit tight amid sale of Olivetti PC arm

Stock market investors are holding back from investing in the Olivetti PC Company, after it was confirmed the division is up for sale.

Paul Mahoney, MD of Olivetti UK, said the search was on for a group of investors unconnected with Olivetti Ing.

Mahoney said the group's Italian head office spoke to a fresh set of investors last week, but that no decision had been made in relation to the PC Company, which he claimed had recently returned to profit.

'I assure you the company has not been sold yet,' said Mahoney. He also denied reports that NEC was a likely buyer, saying its name had been 'plucked out of the air'.

Mitsubishi, which owns Apricot, is also said to be interested. But Brian Androlia, VP at Mitsubishi UK, said some weeks ago that it would only buy a company which gives it additional country market share.

One Olivetti distributor believes a deal has already been signed, but said that officials at Olivetti UK will not disclose which company will buy it.