Electronics Distributor Avnet to Buy Bell Microproducts

Avnet Inc., Phoenix, plans to acquire Bell Microproducts Inc., a publicly owned distributor of storage systems, servers, software, computer components and peripherals. The San Jose, Calif.-based Bell, which had 2009 sales of approximately $3 billion, 1,900 employees and 55 offices in the United States, Canada, Europe and Latin America, serves customers such as OEMs, VARs, system builders and end users. The transaction is expected to close in 60 days to 120 days. Avnet is one of the world's largest distributors of electronic components and had 2009 sales of $16.2 billion. Details