Sphinx buys Landis training unit
Rival takeover saves 35 jobs
A division of troubled distributor Landis has been snapped up by distribution rival Sphinx CST for an undisclosed sum.
As predicted by vnunet.com's sister publication Computer Reseller News last week, Sphinx has bought the training division of Landis UK. Other companies are believed to be interested in what remains of the distributor.
As a result of the deal, which was completed last week, Sphinx has taken on 35 workers from the Landis training division and will combine the business with its own training unit.
Mark Hatton, managing director of Sphinx, said: "We already have an Oracle education centre, are an IBM training partner and specialise in Citrix and Caldera.
"But Landis is a leading Microsoft, Novell and Lotus training partner, which makes the ideal mix. Landis also has a training centre in London, whereas our centres are in Maidenhead and Manchester."
Landis UK was left fighting for survival after rival networking distributor Westcon bought all Landis' European assets for an undisclosed sum last month.
Although Westcon was in discussions with the UK business at that time, it decided not to buy the assets.
"Landis' training business was fully respected in the industry, and we felt this was a good move for Sphinx," said Hatton, adding that the firm intends to "actively grow" even more this year, both organically and through acquisitions.
Nitin Joshi, partner and head of the computer sector at PannellKerrFoster, which was appointed as administrator for Landis UK, said: "I am delighted that we have successfully achieved a speedy sale of the training division, thereby protecting 35 jobs as well as achieving substantial realisation for creditors.
"We have received some late interest in the public networks and the maintenance division of Landis and we are now endeavouring to progress these discussions. However, it is too early to comment on whether anything will arise from them."
Separately, security software vendor Check Point has axed Sphinx after the distributor's latest disappointing sales figures.
"It's been a tough year for all of us to bear, so we thought we would cut them some slack. But the last quarter broke the camel's back," explained Niall Moynihan, Check Point's European technical director.
However, Jamie Pearce, business development director at Sphinx, insisted that the problems started when Sphinx signed with rival security vendor NetScreen.
"Check Point sees NetScreen as a competitor and, at the same time, Check Point signed with Westcon which is a Nokia partner as well," he said.
"It is going to be a very challenging time for the channel, with all three Check Point distributors handling Nokia as well. There is going to be a lot of competition."
Moynihan denied that the move represented a loss of confidence in Sphinx amid rumours of deteriorating vendor relationships. "I would not care if they lost Cisco as long as they did the numbers," he said.