EVRY, France -- The management team of BFi OPTiLAS is delighted to announce that it completed a management buy out of the company on April 28th 2006.

BFi OPTiLAS has been a wholly owned subsidiary of the Avnet Corporation for over 10 years following the acquisition of BFI Ibexsa in 1995 and its subsequent merger with Optilas in 1998. It has operated as a completely autonomous organisation within Avnet's European Electronics Marketing Group. During that time BFi OPTiLAS has contributed to the development and profitability of Avnet within Europe.

BFi OPTiLAS's management team has engaged with an independent private equity firm, Activa Capital, in order to acquire a majority stake in the company. Activa Capital manages over 185 Million Euros of investments on behalf of a number of European pension funds, such as British Telecom, insurance companies, fund of funds and family offices, and has a highly experienced international team dedicated to working with mid sized companies such as BFi OPTiLAS. Avnet will retain a minority stake in the company.

BFi OPTiLAS will continue to expand its operation as a pan European distributor of products and services for the electronic and photonic market places. The company focuses on niche technology products such as magnetic materials, lasers, sensors, connectors, electro-optics, imaging, fibre optics, RF and microwave components, systems and assemblies. The company operates from 12 offices throughout Europe, employing 300 staff.

BFi Optilas International SA