UK AV distributor Steljes Limited, which was founded in 1987, has gone into administration. This news follows the announcement last month that interactive whiteboard manufacturer Smart Technologies was to move away from an exclusive UK distribution agreement with Steljes, and go direct to market.
Steljes held the exclusive UK distribution agreement for Smart interactive whiteboards during the BECTA investment programme, which saw UK schools become the biggest adopters of interactive whiteboard technology in the world.
Speaking to
CRN last night, an unnamed company representative said: "I can confirm that at around midday today, Steljes Ltd went into administration. The administration was a required consequence of the business failing to meet the profit it needed to service, which was a consequence of us moving from a value to a volume model for our largest vendor Smart."
The representative also confirmed to CRN that Alix Partners has been named as the insolvency partner.
InAVate has also spoken to a number of industry insiders who have confirmed the move in to administration has taken place.
The administration affects Steljes Limited only, with other parts of the business, including Steljes Rental, remaining unaffected.
No comment has been made officially yet, but we are trying to contact Steljes directly for a comment, and will have more on this story as it develops today.