CMS Peripherals Acquires CCI Distribution

Storage distributor CMS Peripherals Limited has acquired CCI Distribution Ltd., a storage distributor based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

Following the acquisition CMS Peripherals now has annual revenues of €145M and employs more than 175 staff. As a result, CMS Peripherals becomes the UK and Ireland’s largest independent data storage distributor in terms of revenues, employees and brands sold.

Commenting on the acquisition Frank Salmon, founder and managing director of CMS Peripherals said: "We saw a great opportunity to buy a like-minded, successful distribution business that would offer our customers a broader range of storage solutions. The acquisition will also support our three-year business objective of 20 percent annual growth that would take us to turnover of €250M."

The decision to buy CCI Distribution was based on several inherent synergies between the two organisations:

• Both firms focus on delivering customer service, a differentiating factor when competing with broadline distributors.
• Their combined product portfolio has minimal overlap and addresses the entire spectrum of data storage needs of small, medium and large businesses.
• Both organisations will benefit from the synergies of their combined buying power which translates into cost savings that can be passed onto customers, ensuring the businesses remain highly competitive.

CMS Peripherals will continue to run the business under the CCI Distribution brand. Paul Roughley will remain as managing director and he takes a seat on the board of the main CMS Peripherals’ holding company. A key change is that CCI Distribution will have access to CMS Peripherals’ portfolio of storage brands, and vice versa.

Paul Roughley, managing director of CCI Distribution, said: "It’s a great move for our teams as well as all the vendors we represent. Being part of a larger, highly successful distribution business immediately and significantly expands the sales opportunities for our combined portfolios. The opportunity that lies ahead is tremendous."

Salmon concluded: "CCI Distribution will become an integral part of our business and an important contributor to our number one status in the storage market. We’re delighted to have its entire team join us as CMS Peripherals moves to the next level."