A dedicated steering committee has been formed at Avnet to evaluate the business of Horizon Technology over the next 90 days.

The firm’s 98.5m Euro (£78.8m) takeover of the Anglo-Irish distributor was confirmed last week (CRN Online, 30 June).

Speaking exclusively to CRN, Matthew Gower, vice president of Avnet Technology Solutions UK and Nordics, who will be heading up the acquired company, said: “We have a plan to evaluate the company and find the best way forward.

“If you look back at the past 18 months, this is our fourth acquisition. Horizon has a fantastic Sun business and together with its other technologies it will increase the value-added part of Avnet’s business,” he added.

“Our customers are facing a much smarter end-user market and they need to be able to skill up and sell more solutions than just point products.”

Gower said that Avnet will also be reviewing the staffing situation, although he refused to comment on any possible redundancies as a result of the acquisition. “We are impressed with the quality of the people at Horizon. It is important that we do this properly,” he said.

He also reassured Horizon’s resellers that they have a future with Avnet. “The addition of our vendors will give them a wider portfolio. Resellers will also have access to our resource facility in Bracknell and the financial security of a large organisation, such as Avnet.”

Grahame Smee, managing director of rival distributor Cohort Technology, said: “This move is in keeping with Avnet’s overall plan to get more of a presence in the UK.”
Horizon was unable to comment as CRN went to press.