Datatec posts strong results

Firm reports 14 per cent global turnover increase

Datatec has reported a 14 per cent increase in worldwide turnover for its past financial year.

The networking and services group, which is the parent company of Westcon and Comstor, reported $2.3bn in turnover for the year ended 28 February, compared with $2.1bn the previous year. Profit was $23.8m, compared with $18.2m the previous year.

Jens Montanana, chief executive of Datatec, said: "Improving global economic conditions are only gradually being translated into stronger demand. For much of the 2004 financial year, Datatec operated in the tough environment of the previous three years."

Datatec's turnover came mostly from Westcon and Comstor, which reported turnover of $1.8bn, 13 per cent up on the previous year. The firm said positive effects of the Landis acquisition and a rise in convergence, security and wireless access sales had contributed to the results.

Alastair Edwards, senior analyst at Canalys, said Comstor is doing well against competitors. "There were questions about whether the group could turn around the Landis acquisition, but it looks like it has," he said.

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