SCH DISTRIBUTION ACQUIRES IQ SYS TO UNDERLINE MARKET LEADERSHIP IN CITRIX

Resellers to benefit from strengthened capabilities to exploit opportunities around virtualisation

21 July 2009: SCH Distribution (SCHd), part of the SCH Group, Europe’s largest independent technology business, has acquired IQ Sys Limited, the distribution market leader with Citrix in the UK. Through combining IQ Sys with its already strong position in Citrix solutions and services, SCHd will become the clear and overall market leader. The combined entity will account for over 60% of UK sales, based on current figures. SCHd will retain and build on the IQ Sys identity, which will trade alongside its other distribution brands.

Sir Peter Rigby, Chairman and Chief Executive of SCH Group plc, commented: “The deal forms part of a clear and long standing strategy to evolve the breadth and depth of SCHd’s capability to enable resellers to go to market with the solutions and services demanded by their customers.” This latest acquisition is one of a number of significant moves that have already enhanced its market leading distribution offer. This includes the acquisition of ISI in 2008, a key partner for IBM and Sun technologies; achieving prime status with VMware; and its investment in creating a leading position with Symantec.

Paul Eccleston, SCH Group Director, responsible for distribution, said:

“This acquisition reinforces our strategic commitment to grow our distribution business to be the Specialist Distributor. We are seeing an explosion of growth around applications, server and desktop virtualisation. This acquisition forms a key part of our long term strategy to continuously evolve and grow our capabilities around all leading and new technologies. As a result of this deal we have enhanced our ability to support our reseller partners in taking the best and latest solutions to their customers to maximise sales opportunities.”

As part of SCHd, IQ Sys can now extend its reach, as part of a premier and established distribution group that has market leading relationships with all the key vendors, including HP, IBM, Sun and VMware. The combined entity will furthermore have a leading position in server and storage capabilities.

Sean Fane, Managing Director IQ Sys Ltd, said:

“We are very excited to be joining this specialist distribution group which has a fantastic reputation for achieving sustained, profitable growth. Access to supportive infrastructure, within a financially stable group with a common vision means IQ-Sys can focus even more exclusively on value solution development around Citrix.”

Kevin Bland, Partner Sales Director UK and Ireland Citrix Systems UK Ltd, said:

“As SCHd already holds the rights to distribute Citrix, the purchase is a reflection of their continued support and investment in Citrix and is the result of a deliberate decision to extend their reach further into the channel and take IQ-Sys’ strength into their own extended base.”

An independent and award winning solutions provider, established more than 20 years ago, IQ Sys was formerly part of the QA-IQ Group, an education-led services business. By divesting ownership of its specialist distribution company, the QA-IQ Group aims to focus on its core business in market leading training and learning services, in the knowledge that IQ Sys will be supported in developing its core capabilities as part of SCHd.

ENDS

Notes to editor:

About SCH Distribution (SCHd)

SCH Distribution (SCHd) has over 25 years experience of helping UK resellers gain channel advantage. Its companies supply leading technology brands to computer resellers including on-line retailers, mail order, systems integrators and value added resellers. SCHd operates through the market leading brands of ETC in the UK, France and The Netherlands, in addition to Interchange in the UK and Bestware in France. Moreover, in the UK, SCHd recently acquired Interface Solutions (ISI), the UK’s largest IBM, Lenovo and Sun distributor. SCHd is part of SCH, Europe’s largest independent technology group, and accounts for over 40 % of annual group turnover, which is approaching £1 billion annually.

For further information on how SCHd can help create channel advantage see www.schd-services.com

About IQ Sys Limited

IQ Sys is an award-winning and independent solutions provider established in 1983, distributing quality on-demand delivery, virtualisation, networking and security solutions to the UK reseller channel. Through a deep understanding of technology, the market and customer needs, it combines a unique portfolio of vendor products and a comprehensive support offering to enable customers to generate maximum levels of efficiency, productivity and value from their IT infrastructure.

For further information see www.iq-sys.com

Media contacts: Judy Groves T: 0121 766 2580 / judy.groves@sch-group.com / Louise Acton T: 07595 355 938 / louise.acton@btinternet.com