IBM Software Group Recognizes Avnet Technology Solutions with Two Awards

Business Wire, August 7, 2006

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas, a value-added distributor of enterprise computing products, software and services, and a division of Avnet Inc. (NYSE: AVT), received two awards at the annual IBM Americas Value-added Distributors Council meeting, honoring distributors for demonstrating excellence in boosting IBM partner performance. Avnet received the 2005 Value Advantage Plus Activation (VAP) Award for recruiting IBM solutions providers into the VAP program, which encourages partners to offer value-added services while selling IBM middleware solutions. IBM also recognized Avnet with the 2005 Small- and Medium-sized Business (SMB) Revenue Growth Award for driving business growth in the SMB middleware market.

"Avnet is focused on providing our solution providers with the best opportunities for growth available. By educating our partners on IBM initiatives such as the VAP program, Avnet is able to provide an avenue for partners to capitalize on market opportunities and grow their business," said Mike Heintzelman, vice president, Avnet Partner Solutions, IBM Business Unit.

Avnet Partner Solutions' successful adoption of the VAP program and commitment to educating solution providers on SMB opportunities generated more than 20 percent year-over-year growth in SMB revenue for Avnet's IBM solution providers. By creating new market leads and educating solution providers on IBM initiatives, Avnet not only provides partners with new opportunities within SMB markets, but also offers resellers an effective way to bundle value-added programs and services with IBM middleware.

"Avnet is providing a key service to their partners by helping them offer value-added solutions to their customers and fully leverage all of the benefits of working with IBM," said Melinda Matthews, worldwide channel sales director, Software Group, IBM. "We are pleased to have recognized Avnet with both our 2005 VAP Award and the Small- and Medium-sized Business Award for driving IBM middleware solutions."

About Avnet Technology Solutions

Avnet Technology Solutions is an operating group of Avnet Inc., representing $4.8 billion in annual revenue, with locations in more than 30 countries. As a global technology sales and marketing organization, Avnet Technology Solutions has sales divisions in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific focused on specific customer segments, and a select line card strategy enabling an exceptional level of attention to the needs of its customers and suppliers.

Avnet enables success from the center of the technology industry, providing cost-effective services and solutions vital to a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and 300 suppliers. The company markets, distributes and adds value to a wide variety of electronic components, enterprise computer products and embedded subsystems. Avnet brings a breadth and depth of capabilities that help its trading partners accelerate growth and realize cost efficiencies. For fiscal year ended July 2, 2005, Avnet and Memec, the company it acquired on July 5, 2005, generated combined revenue in excess of $13 billion in the past year through sales in approximately 70 countries. Visit www.avnet.com.

Product and service names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners.