Speculation as Synnex buys FAB

Synnex Information Technology has snapped up Merisel FAB, a wholly owned subsidiary of Merisel, for an undisclosed sum, fuelling speculation that it will buy out Mitac UK.

The acquisition gives Synnex control of Merisel?s US Comp-uterland and Datago franchises, and various brand-name product lines, including IBM, HP and Compaq.

Data storage and networking distributor Synnex?s aggressive expansion comes one week after the company was linked with talks to acquire the unprofitable Mitac UK arm. Mitac International currently owns 85 per cent of Synnex.

The acquisition would give Synnex a ?gateway into Europe?, admitted Mitac UK finance director Gurdial Duhre. He added: ?Mitac UK is currently a fellow subsidiary of Synnex within the Mitac group. It will become a subsidiary of Synnex.?

Merisel chairman and chief executive officer Dwight Stef-fensen said: ?This transaction is consistent with our ongoing strategy to return Merisel to profitability.?