Datrontech flogs training arm

Datrontech Group is continuing to tidy its straggling businesses by offloading its IT training arm less than two years after buying it. The £4.2 million cash sale of Expertise Group to Dalkeith Inns aims to reduce the component distributor's borrowings and move it closer to its core businesses of PC distribution and networking. Expertise made a pre-tax profit of £410,313 on £3,019,569 turnover for the ten months ended 31 October 1998. The training company has three offices in the Midlands and the North of England - Washington Tyne & Wear, Altrincham and Hinckley - employing 17 trainers. Expertise is the third and last part of the former Xenon Holdings to be sold off. Datrontech acquired Xenon in January 1997 for up to £3.6 million. Xenon's other two arms – an Isle of Man dealership and a networking services arm were then flogged, leaving Datrontech to tackle the technical training part. The announcement coincided with the distributor changing the earn out arrangements for the directors of its PC assembly and recycling subsidiary, RD Trading. The Essex company, also bought in January 1997, will concentrate solely on recycling computers. As a result, the earn out period will be extended for one year. Datrontech has also issued 48,619 ordinary shares of 5p each to partly fund the acquisition of Datrontech in Poland and the Czech Repulic. The deferred consideration for 1 January to 30 June 1998 was payable at 150 per cent of £173,570 profit, paid to Tim Close (105 per cent) and Tim Vincent (45 per cent). Only one third was to be issued in shares, with the balance in cash. ®