Investor’s Lawsuit Seeks to Block AmeriQuest Sale

AmeriQuest Technologies Inc. said Wednesday that it has been sued by an investor seeking to block a proposed sale of the company to a German corporation.

The suit, which seeks class-action status, alleges that the board of AmeriQuest breached its fiduciary duty when it agreed Monday to sell a majority stake to Computer 2000 AG, a German hardware and software distributor.

The acquisition, subject to approval of both companies’ shareholders, would provide the first foothold for a European distributor in the U.S. microcomputer market, Computer 2000 said Monday.

The lawsuit was filed in Delaware by shareholder Erica Hartman. Her stake in AmeriQuest was not disclosed.

AmeriQuest, based in Irvine, distributes microcomputer systems, peripherals and software to computer resellers, systems integrators and retailers. Company officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday.