Avnet to Buy Cloud Services Provider Seamless Technologies

Avnet (AVT) has broadened its cloud computing and data center automation services portfolio by snapping up Seamless Technologies, a $14 million public and private cloud specialist based in Morristown, N.J.

Neither company disclosed terms of the transaction, which is expected to close in the next month, with Seamless earnings immediately accretive to Avnet’s net income. Avnet said Seamless will be folded into its services division.

Seamless, which was founded in 1992, specializes in IT infrastructure software technologies, automation, cloud, virtualization, integration, and Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) best practices. The company is said to have a strong cloud practice, particularly with customers in the financial services, healthcare and insurance industries transitioning to private, public and hybrid cloud environments.

“Recent services acquisitions have been well-received by our partners,” said Tony Vottima, Avnet Services senior vice president and general manager. “This latest acquisition adds a critical component to our expanding services portfolio, with private cloud, virtualization and data center automation services that broaden and deepen our suite of solutions for our customers. Our capabilities span presales through implementation, training and managed services, which create new opportunities for our suppliers and reseller partners.”

Vottima said adding Seamless to Avnet’s cloud solutions and services lineup supports the distributor’s long-term strategy to “provide high business value and accelerate hardware, software and services sales.”

The Seamless purchase is Avnet’s third IT-related acquisition this year, following its late March acquisition of Hong Kong-based wireless and data communications value-added distributor, RTI Holdings and its three associate companies. In January, Avnet bought TSSLink, a $10.5 million, San Jose, Calif.-based IT professional services organization specializing in consulting for storage and virtualization solutions.

Last year, Avnet made significant gains to its services capabilities with a number of key acquisitions, including last October’s purchase of BrightStar Partners, a Rolling Meadows, Ill.-based, $10 million consulting specialist in IBM (IBM) business analytics and performance management, and BSP Software, its software development unit. In March, Avnet acquired Ascendant Technology, an IBM middleware reseller and consultant, continued its shopping spree in July by adding Mattelli, an IT contract compliance solution provider, then in August buying Pepperweed Consulting, an HP (HPQ) Software Elite Partner.