The decision by Birmingham-based IMI Plc’s International Engineering Group to sell a 75% stake in its loss-making subsidiary Brook Street Computers Ltd to Sheffield-based Sanderson Electronics Plc for UKP600,000 in Sanderson shares and cash, with the other 25% going to the current management of Guildford, Surrey-based Brook Street (CI No 2,353), follows the losses made by Brook Street as a result of late delivery of its Corporate Unity software range, eventually launched at the end of 1992. Corporate Unity, aimed at UKP20m-to-UKP60m-sized companies, was not as robust as it should have been during 1993 said an IMI spokesman. IMI’s business is primarily aimed at large corporates, a market area at which IMI’s Uniplex subsidiary is now also aiming with its OnGo office software range. Sanderson now majors on Unix and open systems for niche markets such as hotels, solicitors, debt recovery, mail order, printing and insurance. It now has nine subsidiary operations and 12 offices around the UK. Sanderson chairman Paul Thomson said Brook Street was now running profitably, and would retain its own operations and identity. Thomson also said that Sanderson was still on the look-out for further acquisitions.
