Elements, the UK wing of ailing US digital print group Unidigital, is set to be sold-off and the UK-based management team will be among the bidders.


It is one of five Unidigital divisions that are up for sale as going concerns following the firm filing for Chapter 11 protection at the end of last month.


"Elements is an asset," said Elements president and chief executive and Unidigital vice president Tony Manser. "The firm is going through a very good time in the UK. It seems likely that it will be sold in the near future. The management is putting together a bid and one or two third parties have shown an interest in investing."


He categorically denied industry speculation that Photobition or other digital chains including Kelvinside subsidiary C3 were looking at Elements. "The interest has come from people who know the UK team and business," he said.


Unidigital was delisted from the American Stock Exchange after defaulting on its major loans and failure to meet audit committee requirements at the end of last month.


This follows the suspension of shares at the end of August following the resignation of the independent members of its board (PrintWeek, 8 September).


The firm has been facing severe problems since the summer. Attempts by the US management to buy its media solutions division, which comprised Mega Art in New York, Unison in Boston, Super Graphics in California and M Nur in Germany, have also fallen through (PrintWeek, 22 August).


The administrator is currently trying to sell these divisions as going concerns.


Story by Barney Cox