Source: Viglen/XMA deal could be 'as early as January'

CRN understands that provided the deal goes ahead, it will happen in the New Year

The channel rumour mill is in full swing, with talk of a Viglen takeover by Westcoast Holdings - parent company of XMA - gaining pace.

And a source close to the company has told CRN that - if it does go ahead - the deal will be signed in early January.

CRN understands the two companies have been in talks since September. It is also understood that if the acquisition goes ahead, it will see XMA and Viglen joined together to create a public sector powerhouse.

"If this deal does happen it will create the biggest pseudo IT manufacturing company in the UK that can make a real difference in the education market," the source said.

Viglen is currently owned by Lord Alan Sugar's Amstrad group, after it acquired the system builder and integrator back in 1994.

No-one from Viglen or Westcoast Holdings was available for comment at the time this article was published.