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Apple Canada distributor acquired by Synnex Corp

EMJ Data systems— the largest distributor of Apple products in Canada— has been acquired by Synnex Corporation, AppleInsider has learned.

Synnex Canada Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Synnex Corp., and EMJ Data Systems Ltd. last week entered into a definitive business combination agreement in which Synnex Canada will acquire EMJ in an all-cash public take-over bid for 100% of the EMJ common shares, for a purchase price of CDN $6.60 per share, or approximately CDN $56 million.

Jim Estill, CEO of EMJ, will lead the combined Canadian business as CEO of Synnex Canada. In a note to Canadian Apple resellers, Estill said that EMJ will retain its brand name and operated as a division of Synnex Canada, continuing its focus on peripherals and "niche markets" such as Apple.

In October 2001, Synnex purchased Apple distributor Merisel Canada and transformed the company into Synnex Canada Limited. Shortly after the Synnex takeover of Merisel, the corporation stopped distributing Apple products in Canada.

With several distribution shakeups over the last few years, Ingram Micro Canada has increased its focus on Apple products in Canada. In May, the distributor hosted Mac@Ingrammicro world, a one-day event in Toronto designed to make both current and prospective Apple resellers aware of opportunities surrounding the Mac.

The event attracted some 130 Canadian resellers to see products and demonstrations from a series of the company's vendors that service the Mac market, including Apple and Microsoft.

Sources tell AppleInsider that completion of the transaction between EMJ and Synnex is scheduled within the next 90 days.

Canadian resellers are hoping the new force in EMJ and Synnex will yield them access to several critical Apple third party product-lines, which are currently out of their reach.