Action wins major supply deal

Reseller lands biggest contract in its history

Online IT reseller Action has secured a multimillion pound, two-year supply deal with technology-based consultancy WS Atkins.

Steve Menzies, Action's chief operating officer, said it was the "biggest contract in our history".

Action will supply Hewlett Packard hardware, such as desktops, laptops and servers, and Peregrine software tools to the company.

"We are delighted with this win, because it will allow us to demonstrate our breadth of services with the same customer," said Menzies.

The contract, worth between £12m and £15m, comes amid rumours that Action is in the middle of a take-over bid. Menzies declined to comment.

The company came close to being sold to Insight in 1999, but the US giant abandoned negotiations after Action saw a drop in sales and a decline in its share price.