RBR bounces back to tune of Acal's #2m

Cirencester-based RBR Group has received a substantial cash injection of #2 million from electronics components company Acal, as the reseller attempts to pave its way into the European market.

Acal, a UK-based distributor of electronic components, made the investment in the recently appointed Cisco-only outfit (PC Dealer, 1 October) in return for a 20 per cent stake.

According to Jim Virdee, financial director at Acal, RBR has been through a period of rapid growth but needed the financial clout to make the leap into Europe.

'RBR needed some capital. It is going through all the processes of developing into a big company,' said Virdee.

Commenting on Acal's investment, Rory Sweet, joint managing director of RBR, vehemently denied that the reseller was in financial straits.

'We are planning to roll out offices all over Europe as we want to become the largest Cisco distributor in the world,' he said.

However, Virdee conceded that there was also a danger of conflict, because Acal also distributes Cisco products in Holland and Belgium.

'There would be nothing to stop RBR from distributing in these countries, but it would make no sense to compete with it,' said Virdee.

Sweet said RBR will launch its first European branch within Acal's established office in Germany before moving out to France, but said it would not enter the Benelux market.