Buyers line up for Micro Warehouse

High interest in European arm of firm up for sale since parent company's Chapter 11

Companies that have registered an interest in Micro Warehouse's European operation have received official letters this week from the New York-based bank handling the firm's sale.

The 'offering memoranda' have been sent out by US bank Miller, Buckfire, Lewis, Ying to interested firms in the UK, Europe and the US.

Micro Warehouse has been up for sale since early September after its parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US. Its North American assets were sold for $22m (£13m) to rival CDW.

The 45-day grace period that gave CDW exclusive rights to buy the European business expired last week, throwing the sale open to all.

As revealed by CRN in September, David Atherton, managing director of Dabs.com, expressed an interest in the firm, and has since officially registered an interest with the bank.

"We are definitely on the acquisition path. We have reached a sufficient size for growth and that can either be organically or through acquisition," Atherton said.

Another firm believed to be interested in Micro Warehouse is channel giant Computacenter. Although Computacenter declined to comment, a source close to the company said: "Micro Warehouse's pan-European operation would be a good fit with Computacenter."

Other companies rumoured to be circling the firm are PC World Business and Insight.

Nigel Foxwell, managing director of Micro Warehouse, told CRN: "We are looking at a lengthy process as serious offers are made. I don't think we will be getting into serious negotiations until closer to Christmas.

"The level of interest is very high. But as far as we in the UK are concerned, it is business as usual."