Systemax to Buy CompUSA Brand, Stores

Dallas - January 7 - Computer manufacturer and seller Systemax Inc. said Sunday it has reached an agreement with CompUSA to buy its brand, trademarks, e-commerce business and as many as 16 stores from the struggling company, which was sold last year to restructuring and investment firm Gordon Brothers Group LLC.

Systemax said it expects to spend about $30 million on the acquisition.

“We believe the value of the CompUSA brand remains very high,” said Systemax chief executive Richard Leeds in a statement.

Systemax is buying up to 16 CompUSA stores in Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico. Leeds said the acquisition would complement Systemax's TigerDirect subsidiary, which operates 11 retail stores in Florida, Illinois, North Carolina and Canada.

CompUSA Inc. was sold after struggling for nearly a decade with falling prices on personal computers, its most important product, and competition from big-box retailers such as Best Buy Co. CompUSA operated 103 stores when it was sold.

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