Electronic components distributor America II Electronics further expanded its franchised distribution network recently with the addition of Exar Corporation and Gold Peak Industries, the largest companies in its franchised electronic components distribution business to date. Once solely an independent distributor of electronic parts, America II has been working to build a franchised distribution model to complement its existing business, adding more than 50 franchised lines over the last few years.
“We are adding lines where needed according to our customer base,” said Brian Ellison, president of America II Electronics. “This is all a part of our transition to becoming a global distributor.”
Exar Corp. designs and develops high-performance integrated circuits and solutions for a range of applications, including industrial and embedded systems communication, high-end consumer and infrastructure markets. Exar had sales of more than $164 million in fiscal year 2015, ended in March.
Gold Peak is an Asian manufacturer of electronic and acoustic products with annual sales of approximately $719 million. America II will distribute the company’s range of battery solutions through Gold Peak’s Gold Peak Batteries business.
America II also announced its departure from IDEA, the Independent Distributors of Electronics Association. IDEA is a global trade group that represents independent distributors of electronic components and focuses on quality standards, certifications, best practices, and anti-counterfeit efforts.
Ellison said the decision to leave IDEA after eight years of membership is a direct result of the company’s shift toward a global model that includes both franchised business and independent business models.
“[IDEA] is a great organization filled with good companies,” Ellison said, noting that America II will continue to support customers with end-of-life and obsolete parts issues through its independent affiliations. “But the goal of IDEA is to promote independent distribution, and America II is now more diverse than that. We want to be a global distributor. We are enhancing our offering, adding to what we already do well so that we can provide the franchised lines and also offer access to obsolete parts.”
