Logicalis Buys Regional HP VAR Carotek

Terms of the deal weren't disclosed. Logicalis said it bought Carotek's Information Technology Division, based in Matthews, N.C., for a combination of cash and stock.

A $900 million global solution provider with its U.S. headquarters in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., Logicalis also said it plans to buy more regional integrators.

"We are always looking at potential opportunities out there, and we've got several that we are looking at right now," Logicalis President Terry Flood said.

Logicalis, HP's U.S. largest enterprise solution provider, has emerged in recent years as one of IBM's largest solution providers through a string of acquisitions of regional IBM business partners, including Indianapolis-based STI and CompuTech in Green Bay, Wis. On the strength of its IBM acquisitions, Logicalis grew its IBM business from nothing in 2004 to about $200 million in 2006.

Flood said Logicalis' acquisition targets include solution providers with a strong services business and strong partnerships with Cisco Systems, IBM and HP.

The Carotek acquisition will add about 30 employees to Logicalis and lift its revenue by about $25 million, according to Flood. The deal also will boost Logicalis' presence in the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida, he said.

Carotek vice president and division manager Bobby Thomas will remain with Logicalis and become area sales director for the Southeast region, according to Logicalis.