Sun shines for Avnet as distributor buys Access

Distributor poised to complete $412.5m deal and integrate Access into Technology Solutions division

Distribution giant Avnet has assured Access VARs in the UK that it will continue to add value to their business, following its $412.5m acquisition of the firm.

CRN exclusively revealed in August that Access was under scrutiny from a ‘large US company’ (CRN, 14 August) looking to make an acquisition, which last week was revealed to be Avnet.

As reported by CRN last week (CRN Online, 7 November), the deal is subject to conditions but is expected to close by the end of the year. Access will be integrated into Avnet’s Technology Solutions (TS) group.

Speaking to CRN, Achim Apel, president of Avnet, said: “The UK is the second largest marketplace for Sun. We have an IBM footprint in the UK and now, if all approvals go through, we will have a footprint from another major enterprise manufacturer. This is a complementary addition to Avnet’s business.”

Apel added: “No decision has been made if we can keep the Access name, but it is strongly identified with premier Sun distribution. In the UK, the staff have strong dedication to the Sun business; this is why Access is so successful. We are very happy to have broader coverage in the UK and our message to Access’ partners would be that we will follow on with the tradition of adding value and creating business under the Avnet umbrella.”

Apel told CRN the distributor would not rule out further acquisitions, but declined to comment further.

Kevin Drew, managing director of VAR Triangle, said: “It is right for Avnet to expand and reach new markets. It will have customers that touch the Sun community, so why not exploit this? IBM and Sun don’t usually overlap.”

Simon Welch, marketing director at rival Sun distributor Horizon UK, said: “The interesting thing will be the impact this has on the UK. The bigger the conglomerate, the more things are centralised, so the greater the impact is on resellers.”

Sun and IBM refused to comment at the time of going to press.