Computacenter shells out for Top Info

Infrastructure and services giant plans to integrate Paris-based acquisition into its French business

Computacenter has made its first acquisition of the year in France, snapping up reseller Top Info SAS and its subsidiaries.

The deal, for the Paris-based firm, was for €21m (£17.6m), with up to €1m (£0.8m) extra payable, subject to the financial performance of Top Info in the period to 31 December 2011.

Top Info’s recent financials for the year ended 31 December 2010, saw profit before tax hit €4.5m, with revenue of €147.2m.

In addition, Computacenter has agreed to pay a further €15m (£12.6m) in cash for the anticipated net cash on Top Info’s balance sheet on the closing date, which is expected to be the end of March, subject to competition clearance in France.

Top Info operates from four locations in France and employs some 240 people. It specialises in IT infrastructure products and supporting services to large corporations and the public sector in France.

Computacenter plans to integrate the Top Info business into Computacenter France, along with the company’s management team.

Henri Viard, Computacenter France's chief executive, said in a statement: “The acquisition of Top Info will enhance Computacenter France's presence within the IT infrastructure supply market to the large corporate and government market and will provide growth opportunities for its services and infrastructure solutions, through selling Computacenter's offerings into this expanded customer base."

Mike Norris, group chief executive, added: "The Top Info business will strengthen the core of our French business and we are expecting the acquisition to be earnings enhancing for Computacenter in 2011."