Spectre (Communications) Limited will strengthen Avnet Memec UK in RF & Wireless

Thame, November 27th, 2009

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all the business of the UK-based distributor Spectre (Communications) Limited. Spectre is a specialist distributor bringing leading edge communications and wireless solutions to its customers. With effect from November 30th, 2009 the former Spectre (Communications) Limited wireless activities will be integrated into the Avnet Memec UK business.

Spectre has established a first class reputation within the RF and Wireless market and is offering a wide range of chips, modules, and platforms for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, GPRS, VOIP, Zigbee, ULN, WLAN, ISM, and Multimedia Processing. For all of the technologies that Spectre is supporting, they have partnered with global blue chip market leaders.

Patrick Zammit, president of Avnet Electronics Marketing EMEA, commented, “Adding Spectre’s highly skilled technical employees to our UK team will enhance Avnet Memec’s position as the leading pan-European specialist for wireless solutions and will benefit both customers and suppliers alike. The acquisition will not only strengthen Avnet’s position with Laird Technologies, but also add new RF and Wireless suppliers, such as CSR, SiRF (now part of CSR), CML and Antenova, to Avnet Memec’s breadth of product offerings in this area and expands and further strengthen Avnet Memec’s presence in the RF and Wireless market.”
Steve Haynes, president Avnet Memec EMEA, added: “The wireless market is a key growth driver within our component industry and the acquisition of Spectre, with their knowledge in Bluetooth, WLAN, GPS, TETRA, ISM and antennas, will strengthen Avnet Memec's market position as the RF and Wireless specialist across Europe.”

The combined organization’s strength in RF & Wireless will be complemented by Avnet’s world-class supply chain management and logistics capabilities.

Avnet Memec, a business unit of Avnet Electronics Marketing EMEA, is a highly specialised semiconductor distributor, operating on a pan-European basis and employing a significant number of engineers to support customers’ design efforts. Avnet Memec specialises in highly innovative suppliers and technologies, which will help a variety of customers to differentiate their designs. Its area of specialisation extends from Analog and Microcontrollers to RF, Datacom and Networking. The business unit operates out of 31 offices in 19 European countries and represents major semiconductor franchises on a pan-European basis. www.avnet-memec.eu

Spectre is a specialist distributor bringing leading edge communications, audio visual, and biometrics technology to its customers. Spectre offer a powerful range of chips, modules, and platforms for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, GPRS, VOIP, Zigbee, ULN, WLAN, ISM, and Multimedia Processing etc. For all of the technologies that Spectre is supporting, they have partnered with global blue chip market leaders.