11. Tech Data To Buy Avnet Technology Solutions

In another development that will remake the value-added distribution landscape, Tech Data announced Sept. 19 that it would acquire Avnet's $9.65 billion Technology Solutions business for $2.6 billion.

Tech Data, based in Clearwater, Fla., said buying the Avnet TS operations would supercharge its data center business, growing the share of overall revenue Tech Data now gets from data center sales from 29 percent to 45 percent and more than doubling non-GAAP operating income after cost savings.

Tech Data CEO Bob Dutkowsky said the acquisition would give his company the most complete product line of any distributor in the fast-growing data center space.

The distributors expect to complete the acquisition sometime in the first half of 2017.