Climb steps up UK presence with DataSolutions acquisition

The acquisition brings several new partners to the VAD

Distributor Climb Global Solutions has acquired Irish VAD DataSolutions.

The acquisition brings the DataSolutions share of the Irish market and growing position in the UK to Climb.

The VAD boasts 14 blue-chip vendor partners - including Check Point, Citrix, Vercara, HPE Aruba, IGEL, Cato Networks and ColorTokens.

For the fiscal year ended March 2023, DataSolutions reported revenue of approximately $136m (€126m), signifying double-digit growth from the prior fiscal year.

For more than 40 years, Climb Global Solutions has been connecting partners with emerging IT products and technologies.

The value-added distributor delivers solutions and services across the areas of virtualisation, cloud computing, security, connectivity, storage and infrastructure.

DataSolutions an Ireland-based IT distributor serving the Irish and UK reseller markets. offers solutions across the areas of hybrid multi-cloud, cybersecurity, digital workspace and networking.

It addresses the complex challenges around securing, managing and accessing data and applications spread across hybrid multi-cloud, while offering cyber security solutions that cover a wide range of risk mitigants.

Together, Climb and DataSolutions will continue to deliver solutions and services across both the Irish and UK markets.

The partnership will also strengthen the portfolio of technologies and further expand on the expertise currently being delivered to partners and resellers, underpinned by a growing vendor portfolio.

Dale Foster, Climb CEO, said: "The acquisition of DataSolutions builds upon our goal to strengthen our business with new strategic, cutting-edge technology vendors and bolsters our geographic footprint in Western Europe.

"The quality and variety of their vendors will create cross-sell opportunities and enable us to deliver greater value together, positioning Climb as the distributor of choice for partners and resellers.

"Further, DataSolutions has established a robust recurring revenue base, with more than 90% of its fiscal 2023 revenue coming from existing reseller partners."

Commenting on the acquisition, DataSolutions MD Michael O'Hara stated: "Since DataSolutions' was founded over 30 years ago, we have worked tirelessly to establish and maintain our best-in-market reputation for distribution and services.

"By joining forces with Climb, we will be able to enhance the offering we provide through our existing expert team, continuing to deliver service that powers success and adding value to customers in both Ireland and the UK.

"Climb's commitment to working with cutting-edge vendors and its track record of delivering a professional yet personal service aligns with the standard of quality that our customers have come to expect and fits perfectly with our own company ethos.

"There is a synergy between our two organisations, so this is a very positive and exciting phase for the business.

In April, O'Hara told CRN that DataSolutions had been "doubling every three years" claiming its its growth had been organic, but not ruling out M&A as it eyed up the UK market.