AVM on shopping spree

Acquisition of Matrix spells bright future for AVM

Sandy Macpherson: AV industry is fractured at the moment

Audio Visual Machines (AVM) has snapped up reseller and systems integrator Matrix Display Systems in an undisclosed cash deal (CRN Online 7 July).

As AVM made its sixth acquisition in three years, chairman Sandy Macpherson told CRN his firm is
a “non-stop acquisition machine”.

Macpherson said that the strategy of the company is to mirror its clients’ needs.
“If you look at many of our clients, they are Fortune 500 companies.

The problem is, the AV industry is too fractured at the moment, so massive corporations are serviced by small service providers,” he explained. “Goldman Sachs is going to want service from someone that can operate on a similar scale.”
Under the deal, Matrix managing director Daryl Clark has left, but will continue to run recruitment company AV Jobs. “It was all amicable. We are looking to integrate the new company and do not need two managing directors,” said Macpherson.

Lee Johnson, commercial manager and acting managing director at Matrix Display Systems, welcomed the move. “We now have the best coverage in the market,” he said.