Westcon Group, a value-added distributor of category-leading unified communications, infrastructure, data center, and security solutions with a global network of specialty resellers today announced it has agreed to acquire Sentronics, a South African value-added distributor of electronic video and security equipment and solutions.
Sentronics, founded in 2004, will operate as a division of Westcon SA and the management of the business will continue to be responsible for the day-to-day business operations. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The acquisition comes at a time when Westcon SA is aggressively developing and expanding its video, security, and data centre portfolio. Sentronics services and solutions offerings place Westcon in a unique position to better serve the growing video and security solution needs of its customers.
“We are deeply committed to growing our local footprint by offering customers solutions that meet global standards, align with local business requirements, and that are relevant to our clients, partners and resellers,” says Jacques Malherbe, CEO of Westcon SA. “We believe Sentronics fits perfectly within this strategy, and the inclusion of its knowledge base and solution set will significantly bolster our presence as a value added distributor of video and security solutions and services.”
Today Sentronics supplies a myriad of electronic security solutions, including security cameras, recording equipment, optics, accessories and peripherals; as well as access control hardware, building management systems, and integrated security systems. Sentronics’ core focus is to deliver end-to-end, fully integrated security solutions through single platform management systems to its established network of partners across Southern Africa. Sentronics currently has a presence in South Africa’s two largest IT markets, with offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
“Physical security solutions constantly rank in the top business issues facing companies today, it is with this that we believe that by joining forces with Westcon SA, our customers will now have access to a bigger resource pool and a wider range of value-added services that will compliment their security and business needs,” states Bernard Senekal, Managing Director at Sentronics.
“We look forward to being able to offer our mutual customers a wider range of solutions as offered by Westcon SA that address their enterprise network, data centre, communications, mobility and security needs. In addition, being part of a global distribution group will accelerate Sentronics’ growth,” adds Senekal. “Southern Africa’s physical security market is in dire need of a value added distributor that sets the trend and creates the bridge between the security and IT environments. The Westcon acquisition of Sentronics addresses exactly that need.”
Part of the Sentronics business model is to partner with global value-adding partners. Today these include: AverMedia, Sony, Milestone, CNL, Flir, Fujinon Pelco, Saflec, Senko ADL, Synergy, Vivotek and VIRDI.
“The IT industry as we once knew it has changed dramatically: software and services are moving into the cloud and as a result solutions need to converge and collaborate amongst each other. The mutual offerings of Westcon SA and Sentronics will address these changing market dynamics, making Westcon the market leader in Southern Africa,” ends Malherbe.
