Fresh Egg folded into VCW following merger

Both firms remain tight-lipped about deal and how the combined company will progress

The merger between distributors Voice Comms Warehouse (VCW) and Fresh Egg has been completed, CRN has learned.

As exclusively revealed by CRN last month, networking firm VCW, which emerged on the channel scene last year, was poised to buy security specialist Fresh Egg, which boasted Fortinet and Astaro as two of its main vendors (CRN, 16 July). The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

When CRN contacted Fresh Eggís West Sussex offices it was confirmed that the two companies had merged and were operating as VCW. CRN understands that Graham Fox, managing director of Fresh Egg is still working at the new company.

An industry source said the move was a surprise after Fresh Egg allegedly lost its Fortinet contract shortly before the merger, leaving VCW and Noxs as its only UK distributors.

"It is my understanding that Fortinet served notice on Fresh Egg this month, " the source said. "Iím very surprised that VCW has stepped in considering it was in a good position to gain a large percentage of the reseller base as a natural result."

However, the merger has come as no surprise to rival distributors.

Kay Eggleston, managing director of Noxs, said: "As far as Iím aware VCW and Fresh Egg are now part of the same company and the move from Fortinet would make sense from a purely administrative point of view."

Grahame Smee, managing director of Cohort Technologies, said: "I have definitely heard that the merger has gone ahead and that VCW and Fresh Egg are working as one company."

VCW and Fresh Egg refused to comment and Fortinet was unavailable as CRN went to press.