Rocom sale rumours spark channel interest

Richard Carter: We have received interest in parts of the group and we hope to take it further

Broadliners have begun circling voice distributor Rocom after its parent company, AT Communications (ATC), admitted it is in talks to sell part of its business.

ATC revealed last week that it had received unsolicited interest in one of its three subsidiaries, but has refused to confirm speculation that Rocom is formally up for sale.

The alternative investment market (AIM)-listed firm also owns reseller ATC Solutions and services firm Servassure.

Richard Carter, managing director at Rocom, said offloading part of the firm would help ATC cut debt, but said a sale of Rocom is not a certainty.

“People have put two and two together and come up with five.
We have received interest in various parts of the group and our strategy is to see if we can take it further,” he said.

“In these times the City views gearing as an important factor, so reducing debt is important.”

A senior distribution executive said his firm would be interested in acquiring Rocom, but refused to go on the record.

Andy Gass, managing director of broadliner Computer 2000, said: “Given the current demand environment, there is going to be a lot of consolidation in the coming year. Rocom is one of the first distributors to come into play and many distributors will follow in the months ahead.”

Meanwhile, the prospect of ATC breaking up was greeted by some as another nail in the coffin of the hybrid channel model.

Scott Dobson, managing director of distributor VComm, said: “Rocom is a box-shifting voice distributor and does not sit well in the group. It has been proved yet again that the hybrid model does not work.”