WStore, the online reseller, has bought Inmac France, a company almost three times its own size, for an undisclosed sum.

WStore, which is headquartered in France was supported in the purchase by its existing investors. And Inmac France's previous owner, the US private equity firm The Gores Group, will have a stake in the enlarged business.

WStore operates in France and the UK and specialises in selling IT equipment online to small and medium-sized businesses. The group turned over €73m in 2004. Inmac flogs kit mostly through catalogues and claims 40,000 customers in France.

Turnover in 2004 was €208m. The company says that Inmac France will take it into bigger accounts and will help it reach its goal to "become the number one choice for IT purchasing among businesses in France".

Once upon a time Inmac was owned by MicroWarehouse, at its peak a major apple reseller on both sides of the Atlantic. MicroWarehouse got itself into trouble and was bought by Gores. Last year, Gores sold MicroWarehouse UK, which included Inmac in this country, to PC World Business, part of Dixons Stores Group. ®