Avnet Partner Solutions will distribute BSafe/Global Security for iSeries software to customers across North America through Avnet's Enablement Services Partnership (ESP) program. As IBM's largest value-added distributor worldwide, Avnet Partner Solutions, IBM Americas, is using its extensive partner channel to bundle and promote BSafe/Global Security for iSeries in North America. "We are very pleased to be working with Avnet Partner Solutions to bring BSafe/Global Security for iSeries to the North American market," said Shimon Bouganim, president of Bsafe Information Systems 1983 Ltd. "Bsafe Information Systems' innovative and comprehensive security offering and the strength of Avnet in the iSeries channel is a key combination to successfully tapping into this market." "Bsafe Information Systems is emerging as a leading product in the iSeries security software market, and we look forward to a mutual beneficial partnership with them," said Scott Abbott, vice president Business Development, Avnet Partner Solutions, IBM Americas. "BSafe/Global Security for iSeries provides partners with an innovative solution, and Avnet backs it up with the resources, tools and support services to make it easy for our partners to adopt this solution and ramp up rapidly." Headquartered in San Antonio, Avnet Partner Solutions, IBM Americas, is the leading value-added distributor of IBM enterprise servers, storage, software and services, marketing exclusively to the reseller channel throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Avnet Partner Solutions, IBM Americas, is part of the Avnet Technology Solutions operating group of Avnet, Inc. Avnet (NYSE:AVT) enables success from the center of the technology industry, providing cost-effective services and solutions vital to a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and 250 suppliers. The company markets, distributes and adds value to a wide variety of electronic components, enterprise computer products and embedded subsystems. Through its premier market position, Avnet brings a breadth and depth of capabilities that help its trading partners accelerate growth and realize cost efficiencies. Avnet generated more than $10 billion in revenue in fiscal 2004 (year ended July 3, 2004) through sales in 68 countries.