Avnet Joins OpenPOWER Foundation

PHOENIX, Jan 15, 2015 (BUSINESS WIRE) – Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), a leading global technology distributor, today announced that it has joined the OpenPOWER Foundation, an open development alliance based on IBM’s POWER microprocessor architecture. Working with the OpenPOWER Foundation, Avnet will help partners and customers innovate across the full hardware and software stack to build customized server, networking and storage hardware solutions best suited to the high-performance Power architecture.

The OpenPOWER Foundation was established in 2013 as an open technical membership organization that provides a framework for open innovation at both the hardware and software levels. IBM’s POWER8 processor serves as the hardware foundation, while the system software structure embraces key open source technologies including KVM, Linux and OpenStack.

“Working with the OpenPOWER Foundation complements Avnet’s long-standing relationship with IBM across the enterprise, from the components level to the data center,” said Tony Madden, Avnet senior vice president, global supplier business executive. “With the accelerated pace of change in technology, membership in the OpenPOWER Foundation provides an excellent avenue for us to work alongside other market leaders to deploy open Power technology, providing customers and partners with the technology infrastructure they need to evolve and grow their businesses.”

As an OpenPOWER Foundation member, Avnet will provide channel distribution and integration services for OpenPOWER compatible offerings, enabling its partners and customers to focus on innovation, optimizing operational efficiency and enhancing profitability.

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About Avnet, Inc.

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers globally. Avnet accelerates its partners’ success by connecting the world’s leading technology suppliers with a broad base of customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 28, 2014, Avnet generated revenue of $27.5 billion. For more information, visitwww.avnet.com.

All brands and trade names are trademarks or registered trademarks, and are the properties of their respective owners. Avnet disclaims any proprietary interest in marks other than its own.

SOURCE: Avnet, Inc.

Avnet, Inc. Joal Redmond, +1 480-643-5528 joal.redmond@avnet.com or Brodeur Partners, for Avnet, Inc. Marcia Chapman, +1 480-308-0284 mchapman@brodeur.com