Exertis parent leaps into US with Stampede acquisition

DCC Technology acquires 210-employee pro-AV distributor, which also owns projector lamp brand Just Lamps

The distribution powerhouse known to the UK channel as Exertis has made its US debut by snapping up a 210-employee audiovisual distributor.

DCC Technology, part of FTSE 250 firm DCC Group, has acquired Stampede, a New York-based AV distributor which also owns projector lamp brand Just Lamps.

The acquisition sheds more light on the appointment this week of former Dell-EMC UK boss Tim Griffin to the post of DCC Technology managing director.

Stampede will add a new brand to the DCC Technology stable that complements UK and European brand Exertis, Griffin explained in a statement.

"By establishing a presence in North America, we will be strategically positioned to leverage all of the new opportunities we expect to develop as a result of this acquisition," Griffin said.

Based in Amherst, New York, Stampede carries over 150 AV vendors and also owns Just Lamps, which it claims offers the world's largest selection of replacement projector lamps.

It also has offices in Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia, and boasts a network of 20,000 reseller globally.

Kevin Kelly, Stampede, president and CEO, said: "Supported by the resources and long-term commitment of DCC, our employees, resellers and vendor partners will see an exciting evolution in how we go to market and the level of investment we can now make to grow our business. For our vendors, this means greater reach and scale. For our resellers, this means more investment in inventory and more, new, product categories than ever before."

DCC Technology is one of four arms of DCC plc, a FTSE 250 firm which also operates in the energy, healthcare and environmental sectors.

Exertis drew £2.2bn of its £3.1bn revenues last year from the UK, and also operates in seven continental European territories, as well as the Middle East.