It may be the heat of summer but this week was an incredibly busy one in distribution as Ingram Micro added to its cloud offerings, while Tech Data has a showtime moment. Synnex meanwhile adds to its security portfolio and Arrow gives acquisition target Chip One a deadline.
The Services Division of Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM) announced the immediate availability of three new Ingram Micro Cloud services portfolios from Ottawa-based N-able Technologies, Symantec and Trend Micro.
The new services, which were previewed at the 2011 Ingram Micro Cloud Summit, “Rainmakers Wanted,” include N-able Technologies’ N-central remote management and monitoring (RMM) platform and the tool set, Symantec’s Symantec Endpoint Protection.cloud (SEP.cloud) and Trend Micro’s Worry-Free Business Security Services. Renee Bergeron, vice president, managed services and cloud computing, Ingram Micro North America, said cloud security and remote management and monitoring are two must have solutions for progressive channel partners who are using technology innovation to deliver greater services value and help their customers meet and exceed business goals.
Launched in November 2010, the Ingram Micro Cloud provides channel partners access to business, strategy, marketing, technical and sales resources. To date, more than 12,000 free reference documents and marketing tools have been downloaded from the Ingram Micro Cloud site, according to the company.
Tech Data goes Hollywood
Tech Data Corp. (Nasdaq:TECD) announced that it will hold its semi-annual Channel Link event on September 14-16, 2011 at the J.W. Marriott in Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE. The two-and-a-half-day event will feature insights into the most relevant topics in the channel, helping resellers build relationships while learning practical skills and knowledge to build their businesses and adapt to the evolving trends in the technology industry.
Tech Data CEO Bob Dutkowsky will share the importance of leadership in Channel Link’s opening general session, while NBA Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson will deliver the keynote address. Attendees will also be treated to an all-star dinner featuring Los Angeles sports legends A.C. Green, James Worthy, Steve Garvey, and Vince Ferragamo (who played a year in the CFL for the Montreal Alouettes), as well as a performance by KC and The Sunshine Band.
To enhance the Channel Link experience, all registered attendees will gain access to Tech Data’s Channel Link Community, a social media tool that promotes peer interaction prior to, during, and after the event.
Tech Data is also partnering with the influence group the International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners (IAMCP). Tech Data has introduced a new toll-free number, (800) 293-5626, that IAMCP members can call to speak with the company’s dedicated Microsoft team. Open to all IAMCP members, the new toll-free number was launched to provide Microsoft business support to SMB partners who do not yet qualify for dedicated support from Microsoft. Tech Data will also waive its new account fee for all IAMCP members.
Synnex Corp. (NYSE: SNX), confirmed a new partnership with Sourcefire, Inc. the creator of Snort and a vendor in intelligent cybersecurity solutions, significantly expanding Sourcefire’s reseller footprint in Canada and the U.S.
As one of Sourcefire’s first North American distribution partnerships, this relationship extends the company’s channel program into new markets, allowing its partner communities to immediately begin selling Sourcefire’s solutions. SYNNEX is expanding its portfolio with Sourcefire IPSx and virtual security solutions.
Chris Peterson, SVP, Worldwide Channels, Services, and Support for Sourcefire, said Sourcefire places a premium on its relationships with the reseller community and this distributor partnership provides Synnex resellers with greater network security options to address its customers’ needs and more ways to do business with Sourcefire.
Avnet numbers are in
Avnet (NYSE: AVT) sales for the fiscal year ended July 2, 2011 increased 38.5 per cent over the prior fiscal year to a record $26.5 billion; pro forma revenue (as defined later in this release) was up 17.1 per cent year over year.
Rick Hamada, CEO of Avnet said we began our fiscal year with three significant value-creating acquisitions that expanded our global footprint in higher growth markets and increased our customer base and franchised supplier line card. These investments, combined with double-digit, year-over-year organic growth, added over $7 billion to our top-line. Adjusted operating income grew 1.4 times faster than revenue to over $1 billion, driven by operating leverage and acquisition synergies.
Arrow shoots for Chip One
Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE:ARW) launched an all-cash tender offer to acquire all of the common stock of Japan-based Chip One Stop for a purchase price of 220,000 YEN per share (US$2,857 per share).
Chip One Stop has offices throughout Japan and is focused primarily on supplying electronic components to design engineers. Partnering with more than 700 suppliers of electronic components, the company offers a “one-stop-shopping” experience allowing its customers to access selected stocked parts data, and a sourcing request service through a comprehensive database with more than eight million line items. Chip One Stop has more than 107,000 registered Web customers in Japan from more than 36,600 companies as of June 30, 2011 and 99 per cent of its orders are received through the Internet.
Peter T. Kong, president, Arrow Global Components, said Chip One Stop represents an exciting opportunity for Arrow to expand its presence in one of the largest electronics markets in the world. This transaction expands and strengthens our e-commerce capabilities and will broaden our design and demand creation offerings in this important market.
Chip One Stop is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. The company’s sales for the latest fiscal year were approximately $47 million. The tender offer will expire on September 20, 2011.