Westcon Acquires European Security Distributor NOXS

The deal, valued at about $70 million, is subject to European Commission approval and is expected to be accepted in April, according to Tarrytown, N.Y.-based Westcon.

NOXS is the value-added distribution arm of the Internet and security division of Unit 4 Agresso, a business and security software vendor. Westcon Group President and CEO Tom Dolan said the deal will expand Westcon's European presence as it tries to expand its security practice globally.

"The network security business is a very active business. There are lots of new issues in security today, for example, with data leakage and security compliance. It's an area that has a lot of action for resellers and VARs," Dolan said. "Offering proper services and training, this is what NOXS does, and we're very happy to continue with NOXS as our security division in Europe."

Westcon Group's current networking, convergence, security and mobility practice is about a $2 billion business. While the NOXS acquisition expands Westcon's European presence, the distributor also aims to grow through acquisitions in North America, according to Dolan.

"We have a strategy, and there are a number of areas that we're looking to make acquisitions in. And it's an ongoing process," he said.

Plans call for NOXS to continue as a dedicated division under Harry de Smedt and the current management team, who will report to Barry Shakespeare, executive vice president of Westcon Europe. The group will keep the NOXS name until the distributor's customers have adjusted to new management, Westcon said.