Westcoast acquires Spire Technology to bolster UK distribution presence

Westcoast snaps up components distie to expand vendor portfolio, customer base

Westcoast has acquired 100 per cent of the share capital of UK IT components distributor, Spire Technology.

The Dorset-based distributor will become part of Westcoast's ranks, but continue working as a separate entity and maintain its current structure and management team.

Alex Tatham, Westcoast MD, tells CRN one of the main drivers for the acquisition was that there was no crossover with vendors.

"We are strong in the components market, while they focus on branded components and OEM components. They are good at selling processes like motherboards and disk drives, which is a great opportunity for us.

"Westcoast can add value by providing them financial security and a larger customer base, and they bring complementary products."

He explains Spire's business attitude is very similar to Westcoast's - agile, flexible, and valuing their brand in a reasonably priced market.

"Their focus will give our group a fantastic focal point, especially in the currently hot productive space where bolstering expertise and product portfolio is valuable.

"We have a fantastic relationship with Intel, AMD, Nvidia, and others. However, it's not just a trading relationship - it's a marketing and technology relationship where we collaborate, rather than simply a vendor-buyer dynamic."

Tatham highlights that the takeover is part of Westcoast's wider growth strategy.

"We want to acquire only businesses that will add value to our operations.

"Westcoast has narrower but deeper relationships with partners and customers compared to online competitors. Spire has a similar ethos of intimate vendor/partner relationships.

"Our focus is to be number one from the customer perspective through close engagement with customers and vendors. The acquisition allows Spire to maintain its clear focus and strengths."

John Appleton, CEO of Spire, added: "Westcoast can only help grow our business, and in return, we can bring a range of accretive components vendors to Westcoast's significant and diverse customer base.

"We are delighted that we can form part of Britain's largest privately owned technology group and can use its considerable resources to accelerate our growth."