Zurich-based Inspectorate International AG has called it the London office of New York investment bank Wasserstein Perella & Co to advise it on the offers it has received for its Meridian International IBM computer leasing business. Although outright sale seems most likely, joint ventures, mergers or other combinations are on the cards, Inspectorate says. Meridian has been built up by acquisition, including that of United Leasing Plc in the UK. It operates in 14 European countries, and reported profits last year of UKP16.4m on turnover of UKP418m. Market gossip in New York is that the US end of the business will go to PacifiCorp.
