Business News

Ingram Micro Acquires Two Leading European Data Capture/Point-Of-Sale Distributors

Friday 21. November 2008 - World's Largest Technology Distributor Strengthens its Presence in Key Technology Area by Purchasing Eurequat and Intertrade

Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE:IM), the world’s largest technology distributor, broadened its foothold in the European data capture and point-of-sale (DC/POS) market with the completion of its recent acquisitions of Eurequat SA, based in France, and German-based Intertrade A.F. AG. Terms of both transactions were not disclosed.

Both Eurequat and Intertrade are leading distributors of DC/POS products in Europe, with aggregate revenues of approximately $90 million in 2007. Eurequat’s customer base spans France, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Algeria, while Intertrade serves Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Israel. The companies will be integrated into the Ingram Micro EMEA Data Capture/POS Division which, together with the acquisitions of Paradigm Distribution Ltd. (UK and Ireland) earlier this year and SymTech Nordic AS (Norway, Sweden and Denmark) in 2006, will now serve resellers in 16 countries.

Ingram Micro is the only global distributor of DC/POS products, entering the market in 2004 with the acquisition of Nimax of San Diego, Calif., and complementing its worldwide presence with the purchase of Beijing-based Cantechs Group, one of China’s largest DC/POS distributors, in June 2008.

“While these transactions are not financially material, we view them as strategically significant,” said Gregory M. Spierkel, chief executive officer, Ingram Micro Inc. “The DC/POS market continues to be attractive. Businesses throughout the world — from retailers and restaurants to large commercial warehouses and shipping venues — are adopting DC/POS technologies to increase productivity through greater mobility, speed and accuracy. Expanding our DC/POS portfolio is an excellent way to diversify our business mix, as it allows us to offer a greater selection of products and services with greater growth and margin opportunities.”

The transactions reinforce Ingram Micro’s commitment to key manufacturers in the DC/POS segment.

“We believe Ingram Micro’s acquisitions will strengthen our relationship and respond to our resellers’ demands for good availability of Zebra products in their countries. Ingram Micro’s global logistical capabilities, combined with Eurequat’s and Intertrade’s product knowledge, should help our resellers become even more successful,” said Rod Rodericks, Vice President, EMEA, of Zebra Technologies.

Richard Hudson, MSSI Vice President for Motorola added: “We’re pleased Ingram Micro joined forces with Eurequat and Intertrade. This will allow them to grow throughout the EMEA region and build on their already strong presence in DC/POS in Europe.”

Management for the two acquired companies will remain in place, reporting to Johan Vandenbussche, vice president, Ingram Micro EMEA.