Ingram Micro SA has changed its name and will now be known as Platinum Micro after MB Technologies (MBT) bought out the half of the company it did not own in mid-year.
Ingram Micro SA was formed three years ago as a joint venture between Ingram Micro Europe and MBT, but MBT announced in May it was buying the 50% it did not own. The Competition Commission sanctioned the deal in mid-year.
However, the right to use the Ingram Micro name expired yesterday and the company launched its new brand this morning. The Platinum Micro name creates a link to MBT's 55% shareholder, Royal Bafokeng Holdings, and its platinum interests.
Platinum Micro has distribution rights for brands such as Acer, Asus, Kingston, Microsoft, and Seagate. MBT's operating entities now include Tarsus Technologies, ACT and Platinum Micro, as well as niche market firms such as Printacom and ChannelWare.
MBT CEO Glenn Fullerton says it will be business as usual for the distributor, which will continue to focus mainly on components and operate as an independent division within the group.
At the time of the buyout, Fullerton explained the rationale behind the deal was because of the “strategic importance of the components business to the group, and the success that has been achieved in building this business over the past three years”.
Growing range
Platinum Micro will now focus on components “where we have top brands including Seagate, Kingston Memory, Imation and Iomega, and on further development of niche markets,” says GM Ricky Correia.
Correia will head up the rebranded distributor and report to Tarsus CEO Pierre Spies, replacing former CEO Hansie Fourie, who left the company last month. Fourie's departure was followed by that of CFO Craig Turnbull a few weeks later.
“We are also taking on new products with exclusive agency rights that are ideal for the retail market and have already proved highly successful in the US and UK,” notes Correia.
Correia adds the technology surrounding these new products, both of which are in the field of charging mobile phone and IT products, is green.
“We expect demand to grow exponentially over the next two years. In the local market major IT, leisure and home goods retailers are already expressing strong interest ahead of the formal launch of the products later this year. We have a strong base and the green factor is a powerful incentive. Overall, Platinum Micro is well placed to achieve growth,” adds Correia.
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