Hauppauge, NY–Video displays distributor, Electrograph Systems Inc., has acquired ActiveLight, Inc. and CineLight, Inc., both based in Poulsbo, Washington, from Powder Hill Group. The purchase is Electrographs first since it was acquired in August 2005 by Caxton-Iseman Capital Inc. in partnership with Alan Marc Smith, the companys CEO, and Sam Taylor, its president. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
ActiveLight is a leading value-added distributor of display technology solutions and projectors to the professional, commercial and high-end consumer markets. CineLight is a leading, value-added distributor of advanced display technology products and accessories to home theater designers and resellers. Electrograph expects that the acquisition of ActiveLight and CineLight will significantly enhance its size and scope, while solidifying its market presence, specifically on the west coast.
Russell Short, vice president and general manager of CineLight, will remain with the company and assume a senior-level role within Electrographs operations. Herb Myers, founder of both ActiveLight and CineLight, will continue to lead The Powder Hill Group, Boxlight and The Digital Signage Group, as well as various real estate interests. Brad Gleeson, also a founder of ActiveLight and CineLight, will pursue other business interests.
Electrograph offers the most comprehensive product selection of any value-added display distributor, and is the only one to operate a nationwide field sales and service network,” Smith said. “The acquisition of ActiveLight and CineLight is a great addition for Electrograph as we look to strengthen our position in key geographic markets and continue to build out our product portfolio in order to capitalize on the huge demand for high-end displays and value-added solutions. We are impressed with the successful track records of ActiveLight and CineLight, and in particular, the great customer service their employees provide. We look forward to working with Russ Short and the ActiveLight and CineLight teams, with the goal of continuing to strengthen our position as a nationwide value-added display solutions distributor.
Electrograph President, Sam Taylor, commented, ActiveLight and CineLight customers should expect to receive the same high caliber of service they have come to expect, now with nationally extended resources from Electrograph including our factory-authorized service center, a greater breadth of product lines, and access to more product inventory. Its all about combining the best practices of both companies to make a stronger, value-added distribution company to meet our customers growing needs.
The company plans to augment is existing sales force though adding the talent from ActiveLight and CineLight and plans to extend its ICIA sales training to this team. In addition, ActiveLights expertise in the digital signage market will become a key strategic growth area for the company.
While exploring this opportunity with ActiveLight and CineLight, we discovered that our customer overlap was marginal. So we anticipate that an entire new set of customers will benefit from this partnership and the synergies we have to offer, Taylor concluded.
