Quality One Wireless has completed its acquisition of the assets of wireless device distributor PCD, saying the purchase price was north of $125 million. Quality One Wireless had previously submitted a “stalking horse” bid of $105 million, and PCD filed for bankruptcy in an effort to facilitate a buyout. It’s bankruptcy filing reportedly claimed that former CEO Philip Christopher had tried to sabotage the business by recruiting employees to work for a competitive company that he was creating.
Now PCD will be part of Quality One Wireless, headed by John Chiorando. “PCD’s products and market segments are an ideal fit for our global distribution channels,” said Chiorando. “Acquiring PCD allowed a natural extension of our core business, and will accelerate the product and market penetration strategies that benefit our global Telecom customers.
In other device distribution news, Tech Data Corporation (TECD) has acquired Brightstar’s 50% stake in TDMobility, giving Tech Data full ownership of the joint venture. TDMoblity provides wireless resellers with devices, activation services and multiple-carrier consolidated billing. Tech Data is one of the world’s largest wholesale distributors of technology products.
“Acquiring full ownership of the joint venture reflects our commitment to grow our presence in the U.S. mobility distribution and services market,” said Joe Quaglia, Tech Data’s senior vice president for U.S. Marketing. Quaglia is also president of TDMobility.
Brightstar, one of the largest providers of wireless device distribution and supply chain logistics, recently agreed to sell a controlling interest to Japan’s Softbank for $1.26 billion. The deal means that Sprint, now owned by Softbank, is likely to do less business with smaller competitors like TDMobility and Quality One. Softbank said that Brightstar will become the “exclusive provider of “handsets, accessories and services to certain Softbank affiliates.”
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