Cantono eyes further divestment

IT firm slams Xploite for "unpaid consideration" and announces planned sale of datacentre arm

Open to offers: Cantono is looking to sell to "maximise shareholder value"

After selling four managed services units to Xploite, London-based IT firm Cantono is set to continue breaking up its business after announcing it is looking to sell its datacentre arm.

Xploite bought the four units for £3m in November but the two firms have since clashed over the payment of a deferred consideration, which was due on 15 March. Cantono indicated today it believes Xploite acted in breach of contract and intends to pursue litigation.

Cantono claims it has been looking for ways to "maximise shareholder value" for several months. To that end, it has announced it is appointing advisers to help offload its datacentre business.

Cantono indicated the sale of the unit would bring "significant value" to shareholders. The company also claimed the unit had already been the subject of "significant preliminary interest" from "a number of parties".

The London firm claims Xploite failed to pay a deferred consideration last month which drove it to seek alternative funding. Investment from institutional shareholders has helped raised £1.25m. Institutional investors and Cantono's management will be given £890,000 of this.