Technology Reseller - v31

01732 759725 08 NEWS : DISTRIBUTORS Rich Hume Following the completion of its acquisition by funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Tech Data has revealed plans to invest approximately $750 million in digital transformation initiatives over the next five years. Under the terms of Apollo’s $3.75 billion equity investment, Tech Data shareholders are entitled to receive $145 in cash for each share of TECD common stock owned, giving the the technology distributor an enterprise value of approximately $6 billion. Tech Data CEO Rich Hume, who will continue to lead the company from its headquarters in Clearwater, Florida, said: “We are excited to enter Tech Data’s next chapter as a private company with our new sponsors at Apollo who have a track record of building great businesses in our sector. Having a single, strategic equity owner that’s fully aligned with our mission we believe gives us a real advantage in accelerating our transformational strategy and allows us to think more creatively – without the short-term demands that can come with public ownership.” As part of its digital transformation, Tech Data plans to invest $750 million in a number of initiatives, including the building of a hyper-scalable digital business platform and a cloud-based digital marketplace to serve emerging technology markets and consumption models. Robert Kalsow-Ramos, Private Equity Partner at Apollo, said: “Apollo sees Tech Data as a strong platform for meaningful growth and further diversification, and we are committed to supporting investments that build on this vision. This investment over the next five years helps ensure the company has the resources necessary to launch a bold digital enablement and innovation program that will transform the way it serves channel partners and employees.” www.techdata.com Tech Data plans $750 million investment in digital transformation, following acquisition by Apollo TIG takes showroom online ahead of London opening in September With the opening of its real-life Experience Spaces in London and Frankfurt delayed until September 2020 due to Covid-19, Technological Innovations Group (TIG) has added an immersive Virtual Experience Space to its website where visitors can find out about its portfolio of AV, UC, IT and control solutions. These include collaboration and residential smart space technology from Crestron; remote monitoring and power distribution solutions from GUDE; remote collaboration and accessible digital group learning tools from Hoylu; control panels from Black Nova; a multi-screen, multi-location collaboration platform from Oblong; meeting scheduling and management software from NFS; made-to- order furniture from Salamander Designs; and desk signage from Embrava. Visitors can ‘walk-through’ the virtual space, hear how the ecosystem of solutions available from TIG integrate to transform smart spaces in any corporate, residential, hospitality, education or healthcare environment, and get advice from TIG technical specialists. www.tig.eu/experience-us Exertis Hammer rebranded as Exertis Enterprise Four years after it acquired Hammer to strengthen its enterprise portfolio in the server and storage market and two years after integrating the Hammer and Exertis commercial and sales teams under the Exertis Hammer name, Exertis has put a seal on the integration of the two companies by rebranding Exertis Hammer as Exertis Enterprise. James Ward, Managing Director of Exertis Enterprise, said: “Having consolidated the businesses over a period of time, it’s now time to rebrand the division. We are rightly proud of Hammer’s history and its huge success. Hammer’s ethos and value-add approach, which have remained unchanged for nearly 30 years, provide a solid framework for Exertis Enterprise. Our specialist focus, together with our flexible, innovative and consultative nature, will remain unchanged as we continue to drive mutual growth for our vendors and resellers.” The name change will be implemented in the UK and Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden (serving the Nordic region), The Netherlands and Spain (serving Iberia). In addition, Exertis is integrating the networking business unit at Exertis Go Connect, serving the Benelux region, with the former Exertis Hammer teams and extending logistics and warehouse facilities in the region to support faster and more efficient delivery across Europe. n On July 15, Exertis Enterprise is holding a virtual roadshow, Stay Home, Stay Connected , to showcase the latest innovations in cybersecurity, data storage and home working solutions. The event will be available online until August 14 at exertisenterprise.online-events.co.uk Exertis highlights sustainability successes Exertis took advantage of World Environment Day on June 5 to highlight some of the initiatives it has undertaken to improve business sustainability and reduce its carbon footprint. These include: n Working in partnership with Macfarlane Packaging to reduce the stretch wrap and pallet top sheet material used at its three logistic centres in the UK by 24%, saving 18 tonnes of plastic and 45 tonnes of CO 2 e emissions. In the next stage of the project, Exertis plans to remove a further 19 tonnes of plastic material; n Removing plastic from the packaging of its own brand products at Hypertec; n Removing single-use plastic and reducing the size of packaging at Kondor. By removing SUP from the packaging of O2 branded accessories alone, Kondor expects to save more than 974kg of plastic in the first year; n Supporting the circular economy with the refurbishment and repair of mobile devices at refurbished handset and repair services specialist MTR. n Increasing its drop ship services to retailers and resellers by 73%, which reduces the number of times goods have to be moved. www.exertis.co.uk Kondor James Ward