Ingram Micro acquires in EMEA to bolster 'high priority' cybersecurity offering

US giant acquires Forcepoint, F5, Kaspersky and McAfee partner Abbakan

Distribution giant Ingram Micro has acquired a French distributor to bulk up its cybersecurity capabilities across Europe.

Paris-based Abbakan's operates across seven locations in France, with offices in Lille, Lyon, Toulouse and Sophia-Antipolis.

The security VAD has been in business for 15 years and works with 17 vendors including Forcepoint, McAfee, F5 Networks, Kaspersky and Bitdefender.

Abbakan claims to offer value-added services such as technical support, marketing services and after-sales assistance.

The transaction details were not disclosed, but the deal is expected to close in the third quarter of this year.

Ingram Micro claims the acquisition will expand its network of systems integrators and telco companies across France, as the distributor continues to execute on its strategy to become a leader in the cybersecurity space.

"Cybersecurity is high priority for Ingram Micro. One of our global initiatives is establishing centres of excellence around the globe, and this strategic acquisition provides us with the opportunity to further enhance our value-added capabilities, while expanding our cybersecurity footprint across France and the rest of EMEA," said Ingram Micro's SVP of EMEA cybersecurity Ali Baghdadi.

Abbakan will retain its existing management team, Ingram claims, and its existing customers will gain access to the distribution giant's wider portfolio.

Sophie Deleval, CEO for Ingram Micro France, added: "This acquisition cements the transformation we initiated two years ago to strengthen our ability to support our partners in developing their business and stay relevant and sustainable. Abbakan's and Ingram Micro's teams will combine their expertise, dynamism and engagement to provide an outstanding value proposition to the exciting market in which we operate."

Ingram Micro is the second-largest distributor in France, with revenues of €1.4bn, according to research published by CRN's sister publication Channel Partner Insight. It sits behind fellow US distributor Tech Data which logs around €2.6bn in annual revenues.

Rumours have been swirling around the industry over the last year that Ingram Micro could soon be changing owners. Its owner, Chinese conglomerate HNA, publicly admitted in December that it was in talks to sell the distributor. HNA acquired Ingram Micro for $6bn in February 2016.