Exhibit 99
Bell Microproducts Announces the Completion of the Acquisition of UK-Based Ideal
Hardware
San Jose, Calif., Aug. 3, 2000 -- Bell Microproducts (Nasdaq: BELM, news, msgs)
announced today that it has successfully completed the previously announced
acquisition of Ideal Hardware Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of InterX plc.
Ideal Hardware (www.ideal.co.uk) is a leading UK-based value-added,
storage-centric distributor. Since 1994, Ideal has come to be regarded as one of
the leading UK-based independent IT distributors in terms of the quality of the
service it provides and it has established itself as a leading IT distributor
for a number of key vendors including Compaq, Fujitsu, Siemens, Adaptec and
Network Associates. Ideal has developed its leading market position in the UK
through an innovative focus on sales and marketing. In particular, Ideal has
sought to develop an effective method of communicating to a prospective customer
the features, benefits and advantages of any given product. Investment in
providing this value-added service has underpinned gross margins, which have
been greater than those of Ideal's competitors.
With Ideal Hardware, Bell Microproducts will gain a strong presence in the UK
and coverage of the European continent. Ideal Hardware is focused on the high
end of the storage market with many of the same lines carried by Bell
Microproducts, including IBM, Quantum, Seagate Technology, Emulex, Crossroads,
Gadzoox Networks, and Cobalt Networks. Ideal also is a leading distributor of
Compaq servers, PCs and storage products, and is one of only 12 Compaq
distributors worldwide to be awarded the prestigious CIP accreditation for
high-end products. Ideal has strategic relationships with approximately 80
suppliers of enterprise storage, computer systems, software, and media products.
These strategic products are packaged with Ideal's value-added programs and
services to provide complete NAS, SAS and SAN solutions, a strategy that mirrors
Bell Microproducts storage solutions initiative for the Americas.
About Bell Microproducts
Bell Microproducts is an international value added provider of a wide range of
high technology products, solutions, and services to the industrial and
commercial marketplace. The company's offering includes semiconductors, computer
platforms, peripherals, and storage products of various types including desktop,
high-end computer and storage subsystems, fibre channel connectivity products,
RAID, NAS and SAN storage systems and back-up products. Bell Microproducts is an
industry-recognized specialist in storage products and is one of the world's
largest storage-centric value-added distributors.
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The company's products are available at any level of integration from
components, to subsystem assemblies, to fully integrated, tested and certified
system solutions. The company adds value with a broad range of services
including testing, software loading, kitting, mass storage system integration,
and computer system integration. Trained and certified technical personnel
complete each of these processes at Bell Microproducts' ISO 9002 facilities.
Bell Microproducts markets and distributes more than 100 brand name product
lines, as well as its own BellStor storage and Trademark (R) computer brands, to
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), contract electronic manufacturing
services (EMS) customers, value-added resellers (VARs) and system integrators in
the Americas and Europe. More information can be found in SEC filings, or by
visiting the Bell Microproducts Web site at www.bellmicro.com.
Safe Harbor Statement. This release may contain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's current views of future
events and financial performance, involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties which could cause actual results or facts to differ materially
from such statements for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to: the
ability to successfully integrate the operations of recent acquisitions,
industry conditions, changes in product supply, pricing, and customer demand,
competition, other vagaries in the computer and electronic components markets,
changes in relationships with key suppliers, foreign currency fluctuations and
the other risks described from time to time in the Company's reports to the
Securities and Exchange Commission (including the company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K). Investors should take such risks into account when making investment
decisions. Shareholders and other readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on
which they are made. The company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or
revise any forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: Eli Sayegh, Director of Investor Relations of Bell Microproducts Inc.,
408-451-1685, or [email protected].
