Ingram Micro is on the acquisition path in the UK as it looks to strengthen its presence in new markets.
As revealed by CRN last week, the broadliner posted its third-quarter results, which saw turnover grow eight per cent to $7.5bn compared with $6.96bn in Q3 2005. Profit grew to $58.5m for the quarter (CRN Online, 25 October).
Speaking to CRN, Hans Koppen, president of Ingram Micro Europe, said the distributor is keen to grab a slice of the burgeoning Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Point of Sale (PoS) markets in Europe.
“We did acquire a small RFID/PoS business in the Nordics, but we are looking at how to enter this market in other territories. The UK is a priority for us. We will either look to do this through acquisition, or use the skills of our Nordic organisation to greenfield in the UK,” he said.
Koppen said the UK had performed well in Q3 and attributed Ingram’s positive overall performance to an easing of margin pressure.
“This has been helped by Hewlett-Packard attempting to consolidate its distribution channels in several countries and an end to a general oversupply in notebooks,” he said. “The industry is seeing more of a constrained product supply, which is bringing margins up.”
He added other profitable areas continue to be retail/consumer electronics, mobility and portable satellite navigations systems.
Alastair Edwards, senior analyst at Canalys, said: “Ingram is really good at expanding into profitable new areas, which some of its competitors are not doing effectively. It has the scale and capability to make investments, even if these are a bit risky. It is also willing to help resellers understand these new market opportunities.”
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Ingram sees third-quarter turnover rise
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