Public sector success fuels XMA sales and profit spike

Reseller's top line rises 38 per cent to £140m

Acquisitions and big public sector projects helped reseller XMA to a meaty rise in both sales and profit last year.

Accounts recently filed at Companies House reveal the Nottingham-based VAR's revenue grew 38 per cent to £140.5m in the 12 months to 31 December. Operating profit more than doubled to £3.3m.

During 2010, XMA, which is owned by Westcoast parent company Kelido Limited, added accretive sales from acquisitions Orion Storage Solutions and Direct IT Distribution to its top line. The public sector-focused VAR also boosted its sales team last year, with employee numbers rising from 64 to 91. Admin staff levels fell from 181 to 176.

In January last year, XMA was one of six suppliers picked for the government's Home Access scheme. Six months later the HP, Samsung and Toshiba partner was chosen as the supplier for the programme's assistive technology element.

The directors' report for the year claimed XMA is in good shape in both the private and public sectors.

"The company achieved great success from [the Home Access programme]," said the report. "The directors are convinced that XMA's position is now firmly established in this marketplace and, despite the current economic environment, they remain confident that XMA's presence across the breadth of the public sector and growing engagement in the corporate sector across a variety of technologies and related services will ensure success over the medium to longer term."