Munich
10 December 2007
Avnet Electronics Marketing EMEA, a part of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), announced today that it has signed a pan-European franchise agreement with Maxim Integrated Products, one of the World's leading manufacturers of analog components. The agreement is an extension of an existing relationship between Maxim and Avnet Memec and is effective immediately.
To capitalize on the full strength of the Avnet distribution network in Europe, Maxim has granted Avnet a twin franchise agreement for Avnet Memec and for Silica to cover the entire breadth of the distribution market and Avnet's service offerings, from design chain to supply chain management.
As part of the global agreement, Maxim anticipates some reorganization and consolidation of its existing distribution network in North America as well as in Europe. However, Avnet Electronics Marketing, more specifically two of its business units - Avnet Memec and Silica - are allowed to start trading as of now. Avnet Memec, who already has a distribution agreement with Maxim in parts of Europe, will start trading on the expanded franchise immediately, and Silica will commence trading Maxim products by the beginning of February 2008.
Walter Sangalli, Managing Director of Maxim Integrated Products in Europe, said: “Sharing our franchise between the highly design-driven specialist distributor Avnet Memec and the broadline semiconductor specialist Silica is in our eyes the best solution to fully penetrate the European analog market and win more analog sockets and mass market opportunities.”
Patrick Zammit, President of Avnet Electronics Marketing EMEA, commented: “With Maxim, Silica will complement its analog product offering and Avnet Memec will add to its line card a worldwide leader in Analog products. Maxim technologies and products will strengthen the quality of Silica and Avnet Memec analog solution offering to customers' design engineers.”
Miguel Fernandez, President of Silica, concluded that, “Silica and Avnet Memec are very complementary in their approach to the market. Silica will bring to Maxim a strong sales force across Europe with specialized engineering know-how in analog application. Our strength is that of a specialized broadliner with enough critical mass to also drive additional volume business with standard analog products.”
Steve Haynes, President of Avnet Memec, commented: “In our existing relationship with Maxim in Southern Europe, we have gained vast technical and commercial experience with the line and its extremely competitive and innovative technologies. As we are predominantly design-driven, our focus will be to create new sockets for Maxim products in our strong application areas. Our technically oriented sales force and our field application team will make sure that our customers will benefit clearly from this world leading supplier.”
The analog components market in Europe is huge, and the distribution part according to DMASS is in excess of 1.3 Billion Euro. As a major player in that market, Maxim offers a multi-million Euro opportunity. Avnet EM EMEA is one of the biggest players in that market and has franchise agreement with most of the major manufacturers. Patrick Zammit: “We regard Maxim as a complement to our vast portfolio of analog components and a great opportunity for our customers to choose leading technology from a renowned supplier.”
About Avnet Electronics Marketing EMEA
Avnet Electronics Marketing EMEA, a part of Avnet Electronics Marketing, is a group of highly focused distribution business units (speedboats), concentrating on special market segments, franchise partners or technology areas. The group includes EBV Elektronik, Silica, Avnet Memec, Avnet Time, Avnet Israel and Avnet Kopp. The distribution business units are supported by Avnet Logistics, which operates warehouses in Poing (Germany) and Tongeren (Belgium).
About Avnet Electronics Marketing
Avnet Electronics Marketing is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company. Avnet Electronics Marketing serves electronic original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers in 73 countries, distributing electronic components from leading manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and supply-chain services.
About Silica
SILICA, a division of Avnet Electronics Marketing EMEA (Europe, Middle-East, Africa), is a highly specialized semiconductor distributor. SILICA operates 37 branch offices throughout Europe and provides customers with a broad portfolio of semiconductor products from 23 leading vendors along with in-depth technical support and the full set of logistics and value added services.
About Avnet Memec
Avnet Memec, an independent business unit of Avnet Electronics Marketing EMEA, is a highly specialized semiconductor distributor, operating on a pan-European basis and employing a significant number of engineers to support customers' design efforts. Avnet Memec specializes in highly innovative suppliers and technologies, which will help a variety of customers to differentiate their designs. Its area of specialization extends from Analog and Microcontrollers to RF, Datacom and Networking. The business unit operates out of 30 offices in 17 European countries and represents major semiconductor franchises on a pan-European basis. Its many major supplier partners include Cirrus Logic, Lattice, Marvell, NEC, Silicon Laboratories.
Source: www.em.avnet.com
