Brightstar Acquires Majority Interest in Consumer Electronics Distributor, WSA Mexico
New company to be called Brightstar Retail and will focus on delivering consumer electronics products to retailers in Latin America
MIAMI, May 23 /-- Brightstar Corp., the world's largest wireless distribution and supply chain solutions company, announced it has acquired a majority interest in a new company established with WSA Distributing, expanding its product line to consumer electronics products and adding more advanced retail services to its portfolio.
WSA Distributing is a distribution company representing consumer electronics brands such as Logitech, Creative, Belkin, Uniden, iSymphony, and Lexar in many parts of Latin America.
The new entity, named Brightstar Retail, diversifies Brightstar's portfolio offering, increasing the overall products supported and offering high demand consumer electronics products to retail customers alongside its wireless handset and accessory product lines.
With operations beginning in Mexico, Brightstar Retail will immediately serve the more than 4,000 points of sale that WSA supports today. Brightstar Retail will continue to focus on expanding coverage and selling consumer electronic products such as MP3 players, flat screens, cordless phones, two- way radios, accessories and other communications and electronics devices to top retailers throughout the country.
The company plans to expand services and its consumer electronics product portfolio to other countries in Latin America and around the world in the near future.
According to Brightstar president & CEO, R. Marcelo Claure, the new company takes advantage of the strengths of both organizations. "WSA's customers see tremendous value in the added services and support that WSA brings to the retail environment. By coupling their advanced retail support and consumer electronics expertise with Brightstar's unmatched infrastructure and local experts, we believe we can help transform support to the retail point of sale ... first in Latin America and then throughout the world."
WSA Distributing Inc. chairman & CEO Carlos Becerra said, "We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Brightstar to create Brightstar Retail. We look forward to expanding the reach of our consumer electronics expertise and product lines to add value to retailers worldwide."
Customers and vendors have shown excitement as well.
"Both WSA and Brightstar are valued Belkin partners, and we are very excited about the creation of Brightstar Retail," commented Joe Jaconi, Belkin's Director of Sales, Latin America and Canada. "By combining each company's scale and financial strength, they can now improve upon logistics and speed-to-market of new products, giving customers greater access to quality products at affordable prices."
According to Marcelo Claure, teaming with WSA Distributing is one more step to continuing its planned corporate diversification strategy.
Among the enhanced capabilities offered by Brightstar Retail:
o Proven expertise in product launches and training of technical devices
into retail points of sale;
o creation, packaging and promotions;
o Channel sell through support and reporting;
o Advertising and marketing development implementation.
Brightstar Retail has started business in Mexico, with expansion into further markets expected in the coming months.
About Brightstar
Brightstar Corp. is the largest wireless distributor and supply chain solutions provider in the world. With global headquarters in Miami, FL, Brightstar serves customers on six continents. The company provides solutions to network operators, MVNOs, resellers, retailers and agents around the world and also represents the world's leading wireless manufacturers. In 2006, Brightstar generated nearly $3.6 billion in revenue. For more information, visit www.brightstarcorp.com.
About WSA Distributing
WSA Distributing Inc. located in San Diego California is a specialized distributor of wireless products focusing on the individual needs of customers. WSA makes its customized distribution solution available to any level of channel sales which include network operators, MVNO and retail sales in the United States, Latin America and Africa. WSA manages wireless inventory from the manufacturing floor to the doorstep of the end user.
Source: Brightstar Corp.
CONTACT: Sally Lange, VP Global Marketing and Public Relations, of Brightstar, +1-786-863-0764, Sally.lange@brightstarcorp.com
Web site: www.brightstarcorp.com/
