PC Wise set to be sold as a going concern

PC Wise, the Merthyr Tydfil-based CD manufacturer and duplicator, has put itself up for sale following its collapse into administration on 6 April.

The company - once billed as one of Europe's largest CD manufacturer - had fallen into administration following the drying up of its cashflow, despite generating turnover of #6.2 million for the year ending March 1997.

PC Wise had maintained a number of high-profile corporate accounts, including Lotus, Microprose, Traxdata and Virgin.

Chris Price, partner at administrators Edward Symmons and Partners, commented: 'It is an opportunity for an investor to acquire the business assets of PC Wise and benefit from the substantial business opportunities created by the recent heavy investment in the modern plant and the comprehensive blue chip client base.'

He claimed the administrators were optimistic about saving the 105 jobs affected by the company's demise.

'We are very hopeful of selling it as a going concern. The creditors meeting is tomorrow (8 May) and we have two very good offers. It will probably go for about #2 million.'

PC Wise, established in 1989, became Europe's largest duplicator of floppy disks in 1993. By the end of 1996, it was producing 100,000 CDs a day.