Italy's Esprinet expands further in S. Europe with the acquisition of the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese value-added distribution business of the Itway Group.

Founded in 1996, Itway distributes offerings in 3 market segments-- security, networking and server software-- within Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey and the M. East. It holds 30 brands in its Italian VAD portfolio, including the likes of Check Point, Red Hat and Extreme Networks, and 20 vendor brands in the Spanish and Portuguese branches. T

The VAD business generated overall pro-forma sales of €48.6 million in 2014 and €57.2m in 2015, and pre-tax profits of €1.7m in 2015. Esprinet says the deal should close on 30 November, and hopes it will add sales in excess of €480m for fiscal 2016. It will pay €5m in cash for Itway once the acquisition is done, with €5.8m to follow based on the meeting of economic and financial targets.

Belgian Microsoft specialist Codit announces a merger with Dutch consultancy Axon Olympus, creating what the two companies describe as the largest Microsoft integration and cloud solutions partner in Europe.

The merged company will operate under the Codit name, and has 120 employees in 6 countries. Codit boss Stihn Degrieck remains CEO, while Axon Olympus CEO Sean MacGillavry becomes CMO while holding responsibility for further international expansion. Codit and Axon Olympus have already been working together since a 2012, with a collaboration on R&D and managed services. The relationship was taken further in a 2014 joint venture and the opening of new offices in Zuric and Hampshire, UK.

Beta Distribution PLC launches a new business, Beta Digital Media Solutions, headed up by Managing Director, Joel Chimoindes. [Shown in photo.]

With 2500 registered customers and annual revenues of more than £200m, Beta Distribution PLC is now one of the largest IT products distributors in the UK.

There are two distinct sides to the business-- their original business in Office Technology products (printers, scanners, fax,  consumables) and their rapidly growing Technology Solutions products and services (IT).

Beta Read more...

by Chuck Wilson, Executive Director, NSCA

Fortunately, the vast majority of NSCA members own or operate systems integration businesses that are doing well; however, a handful of others no longer have a company to own or manage. They got caught up in what I call the “death spiral.” With their permission, we’re sharing their stories – although each source will remain anonymous – with the hope these things never happen to you.

Each person had a unique situation to face, and he or she didn’t identify what had to be done early enough to correct th Read more...