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Avnet Signs UK Distribution Agreement with Riverbed

Avnet Technology Solutions, the solutions distribution leader and an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today announced it has signed a new distribution agreement with Riverbed Technology in the UK.  Through the partnership, Avnet will offer wide area network (WAN) optimisation and network and application visibility solutions, providing market-leading technology for a range of users and environments, from the mobile worker to the data centre.  Avnet selected Riverbed for its recognised leadership in the WAN optimisation market.

Trends such as IT consolidation, virtualisation and cloud-based computing are driving organisations to consider more efficient ways of operating their WAN infrastructure.  WAN optimisation technology has been proven to reduce operating expenses and improve IT performance.  With an increasing number of organisations offering employees the ability to work from home or at remote branch offices, the Riverbed WAN optimisation solution can provide the same local area network (LAN)-like performance enjoyed by those based at corporate headquarters, securely and without the need to increase bandwidth.   

Commenting on Avnet’s agreement with Riverbed, Bruce Hockin, head of business strategy at Avnet Technology Solutions, UK said, “The versatility of Riverbed’s technology has broad appeal.  Riverbed’s technical excellence coupled with Avnet’s expertise in bringing converged storage, networking and security solutions to the marketplace allows us to address the many challenges faced by organisations today.”

Technology from Riverbed has been proven to support multiple areas, from data centre consolidation and virtualisation, real-time storage replication and data recovery, desktop virtualisation and mobility through to network and application performance visibility. 

“Riverbed solutions add real value and distinct competitive advantage to Avnet’s portfolio. They enable us to augment existing solutions therefore increasing opportunities within our business partners’ customer base,” added Laura Harman, sales director at Avnet Technology Solutions, UK.  “Riverbed enables IT organisations to overcome the performance issues commonly associated with WAN deployments, such as bandwidth and latency, delivering rapid return on investment.  Coupled with Avnet’s ability to deliver first-class sales tools, professional services, training and support, we have the perfect foundation for developing new opportunities and driving incremental growth to the benefit of all parties: end user customers, business partners and Riverbed.” 

Tim Mackie, senior director, distribution channels at Riverbed, concluded, “Riverbed has a strong, flourishing partnership with Avnet in the U.S. The new UK contract is an expansion of our relationship, designed to enhance sales channels for Riverbed in the storage, applications and mobility markets.  We are confident that Avnet’s deep understanding of networking, security and storage, its extensive business partner network and successful track record in supporting international enterprise channels will further enhance the Riverbed Partner Network in the UK.” 

This agreement was signed between Riverbed and Avnet’s legal entity Avnet Europe Comm. VA.

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About Avnet Technology Solutions
As a global solutions distributor, Avnet Technology Solutions collaborates with its customers and suppliers to create and deliver effective solutions that address the business challenges of their end-user customers locally and around the world. For fiscal year 2010, the group served customers in more than 30 countries and generated US $ 8.19 billion in annual revenue. Avnet Technology Solutions is an operating group of Avnet, Inc. Visit: www.ts.avnet.com/emea/

About Avnet
Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended July 3, 2010, Avnet generated revenue of $19.16 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com (AVT_IR)

For more information please contact:
Avnet Technology Solutions
Linda Patterson, Marketing Director
T: +44 (0)1344 662000
E: linda.patterson@avnet.com