The South Dock Marina in London’s Docklands area, created during a spell of 1980s optimism and now languishing with still half empty mews developments, provided a fitting backdrop to the formal announcement of the management buy-out of computer services and equipment distributor Hawke Systems from its parent company Lex Electronics (CI No 1,396): Hawke Systems managing director Peter White said the reason for the deal was that automative distributor Lex Services Plc, like many large, acquisitive firms of the last decade, had now decided to return to its core businesses in a difficult business climate. Hawke Systems, now operating under the name of Hawke Computer Systems Plc – the Plc tag is there simply for prestige and does not signal any short-term intention to float – saw sales slump 14% to around UKP11m last year; profits were wiped out, White claims, by the expense involved in trying to expand from being a franchised distributor and value added reseller for Motorola and DEC: the fruits of these efforts – most likely a franchise for the distribution of workstations – are expected to be announced within two months. DEC’s Nigel Carruthers endorsed the buy-out by saying that it would leave Hawke more room to react to DEC’s new marketing strategy (CI No 1,392), possibly in the role of a value added wholesaler, selling DEC kit with hardware and software add-ons to value added resellers. Motorola Computer Systems’ Rob Jefferson reaffirmed the Lex rationale for putting Hawke up for sale, arguing that in a people-related sector such as computer services and distribution, the view now was that small is beautiful. Poyle, Slough-based Hawke Computer Systems, in whom venture capitalist 3i Plc has an equity holding of some 30%, will be chaired on a part-time basis by Dr Peter Harrop, formerly of Plessey Plc and now chairman and chief executive of Brighton, East Sussex-based Computer Security Ltd. Harrop said he was approached by Peter White when it became obvious that the buy-out was going to succeed, and decided to become involved because nowadays small firms need all the help they can get.
