Rebranded SDG plans acquisitions

UK-based distributor will acquire again if right opportunities come up as it vows to take the fight to the US broadliners

Paul Eccleston: It won’t boil down to the big four US distributors

SCH has slammed suggestions that the four largest US-based broadliners are beginning to exert a vice-like grip over European distribution.

The UK-based IT group recently united its distribution brands under the SDG banner, in a move it claims will allow it to retain its specialist edge following its acquisition spree.

SDG head Paul Eccleston said the distributor, which bought Citrix distributor IQ Sys last year and IBM distributor Interface in 2008, would acquire again if the right opportunity came along.

“It won’t boil down to the big four US distributors [Ingram Micro, Tech Data, Avnet and Arrow], however much they want it to,” said Eccleston. “You need a balance between scale and local expertise and by definition they can’t meet both criteria as the decision making is done from the US.

"We are not hell-bent on acquisitions but if there are other opportunities to enhance our specialist skills we will look at them."

He named SDG, Ireland-based DCC and Italy’s Computer Gross as acquisitive European players who will survive in the long term.

Eccleston signalled that SDG would continue to build its portfolio. “We have a leadership position in Intel server-based solutions and will add to that portfolio to maintain that position,” he said. “We have put a lot of resources behind Symantec and will add complementary vendors in the coming months.”