Avnet celebrates growth in its IBM server and storage business with over 100% year on year growth

Sydney, Australia, September 28th, 2007 -- Avnet Technology Solutions, a value-added distributor of enterprise computing products, software and services, and an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT) today announced they have seen record growth in IBM server and storage business unit in FY07.  General Manager for Avnet Technology Solutions Australia, Gavin Lawless, noted “this is a fantastic result for Avnet Australia, our business partners and our local Avnet team.  Looking across our IBM Business unit, we have achieved over 100% revenue growth year on year. 

In terms of where the growth is coming from, it has been spread pretty evenly across all of the IBM Server and Storage brands.  Our System x and Storage business has been in growth mode since we recruited new and experienced members into the Avnet team, as well as driving targeted sales and technical enablement programs to key areas of the channel,” said Lawless.  “Towards the end of last year, we launched our Avnet Blade Central program, and on the back of this conducted a three city road show (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane), where in conjunction with IBM we discussed Blade positioning, solution design and IBM’s overall Blade strategy,” said Lawless.  Michael Costigan, Avnet Marketing Director, and the Avnet marketing team have created “Avnet Blade Central”, which is a specific channel program for partners that provide them the necessary tools, programs, education and resources to help grow their IBM Blade business.

“Our System i and System p business also returned favorable results for FY07,” said Lawless.  “While market predictions for these traditional mid – high server solutions was tipped to be flat, our valued business partners managed to out pace the market.  A pleasing aspect for us was the number of solution orientated sales our business partners drove.  It is one thing to talk about solutions, but seeing and hearing our partners work together to form business solutions was most pleasing,” noted Lawless.

Lawless also had high praise for IBM,“they are a channel friendly organization, they understand the value that solution providers bring to the market and they understand the role that value distribution plays”.

IBM Australia's Vice President for Systems and Technology, Mark Latchford said, "IBM is delighted with this revenue result. This kind of business growth demonstrates that the value-added distribution model driven by Avnet is working effectively and our clients are benefiting from a combination of our long-term relationships and innovative technology solutions."

Lawless noted that not only were the figures growing but so were the number of business partners that now called Avnet home.  “We have had over 80 new business partners join the Avnet - IBM family in the last 12 months. Coupled with this growth we have also seen an explosion in the number of business partners in QLD, and to that end we opened a new office in Brisbane in May of this year” stated lawless.

In summary, Avnet and IBM have had a successful FY07, but at the end of the day it was not achievable without the hard work of our valued business partners and dedicated team of professionals at Avnet.    “One of the great aspects about working at Avnet is the team of friendly and committed professionals.  I have been pleasantly surprised by the teams worth ethic and demeanor; grace under pressure is the best way to describe the Avnet Australia team,” added Lawless.

About Avnet Technology Solutions
Avnet Technology Solutions is an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) representing US$6 billion in annual revenue for fiscal year 2007, with locations in more than 30 countries. As a global technology sales and marketing organization, Avnet Technology Solutions has sales divisions 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. Visit www.ats.avnet.com.

About Avnet
With more than 300 locations serving customers in 70-plus countries worldwide, Avnet markets, distributes and adds value to the products of the world's leading electronic component suppliers, enterprise computer manufacturers and embedded subsystem providers. Additionally, Avnet brings a breadth and depth of service capabilities, such as supply-chain optimization, logistics solutions, product assembly, device programming, computer system integration and engineering design assistance. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, Avnet generated revenue of $15.68 billion. Visit www.avnet.com/.

Media Contact:

Michael Costigan

Marketing Director

Michale.costigan@avnet.com

0408651467

02 8877 0751

www.ats.avnet.com.au