Romsey, Hampshire-based IBM business partner Quest Automation Plc has gone into liquidation, as its Dutch parent company, Infotheek NV, has entered insolvency proceedings in the Netherlands. According to Infotheek’s receivers, Infotheek, one of the 10 largest personal computer sellers in Europe, was beaten down by the recession and by fierce competition. Due to book-keeping problems, the Leiden-based holding company turned in a loss the equivalent of $12.4m last year, which was too large for Infotheek to bear. In Holland, receivers were called in at the end of October; in the UK, Quest is being dealt with by David Meany of Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte. Talks are said to be under way for the sale of Quest, formerly owned by Erskine House Plc in the UK and a long-standing Soviet player.
