Softchoice To Buy Optimus For $38 Million

In its quest to hit the $1 billion mark, $703-million Softchoice (no. 69 on the VARBusiness 500) has agreed to purchase Optimus Solutions (no. 205 on the VARBusiness 500) -- its third such acquisition since October -- for $38.1 million in cash.

The acquisition of $140 million Optimus would help Softchoice to provide advanced hardware technology solutions and services, including internetworking, server consolidation, and security solutions to U.S. mid-market, enterprise and public sector organizations. The deal broadens Softchoice's geographic reach, extending its ability now to deliver hardware solutions across all U.S. market segments.

In December, Softchoice purchased $192-million Software Plus, the ninth largest Microsoft LAR in the United States. That $45 million deal followed the October purchase of NexInnovations' (no. 70 on the VARBusiness 500) Technology Solutions and Professional Services divisions. NexInnovations was a $700-million, a Canadian-based enterprise solutions provider. On a trailing 12-month basis, Optimus Solutions generated $140 million in revenue. Roughly 40 percent of Optimus' revenue came from the enterprise market segment, 50 percent from the midmarket segment and 10 percent from the public sector. Approximately 87 percent o revenue is from hardware sales, 7 percent is attributable to the sale of software, and the remainder from services.