AppDirect and TBI Unite

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, February 1, 2023—AppDirect, the world’s leading B2B subscription commerce platform, today announced that it has acquired TBI, one of the leading technology service aggregators in North America. This combination significantly increases AppDirect’s existing contingent of technology advisors and further confirms its position as the top destination for advisors to grow and diversify their revenue streams.

Founded and led by Geoffrey Shepstone for over 30 years, TBI has provided a world-class partner experience for technology advisors. The company has built its business and its stellar reputation by prioritizing relationships with the advisors and providers it serves.

Combining AppDirect and TBI is expected to enable advisors to accelerate growth through an extensive multi-category catalog, the ability to offer more value-added services, and exceptional customer service. This acquisition will provide advisors with industry-leading digital tools to help their businesses customers find, buy, and manage technology.

For current AppDirect advisors, TBI’s engineering and educational resources will provide them with an enhanced level of support and enablement.

“I’m thrilled to welcome TBI into the AppDirect community. This is a crowning achievement that gives shape to the relationship-based marketplace approach we believe is the way of the future for B2B commerce,” said Nicolas Desmarais, Chairman and CEO, AppDirect. “By combining the power of our platform and our entire ecosystem with TBI’s approach to the advisor-business relationship, we can provide a level of service for advisors that goes well beyond what has been achieved before,” he added.

TBI advisors will be able to more easily find, buy and manage technology solutions and expand their portfolio, ultimately future-proofing their business.

“Our advisors will now have access to the world’s most diversified and largest catalog of technology solutions, making it easier for them to sell and cross-sell a much greater range of products to their customers, and drive new sources of revenue,” said Geoffrey Shepstone, President, TBI. “They will also be able to manage their entire business in one place. The AppDirect platform provides businesses and partners with access to identity management, data visualization, workflow and applications management solutions to help them manage all of their technology through the AppDirect Marketplace,’ he added.

AppDirect and TBI were supported by key partners to help facilitate this transaction. CDPQ, a global investment group and investor in AppDirect since 2020, provided primary financing to AppDirect for this acquisition. Additionally, Mesirow Investment Banking served as the exclusive financial advisor and Vedder Price served as legal advisor to TBI on this transaction.

ABOUT APPDIRECT

AppDirect is a San Francisco-based B2B subscription commerce platform company that brings together technology providers, advisors, and businesses to simplify how they buy, sell and manage technology. More than 1,000 providers, 10,000 advisors and 5 million subscribers rely on the AppDirect ecosystem of subscription marketplaces to power their innovation, growth, and success.

ABOUT TBI

Founded in 1991, TBI has assisted Systems Integrators, VARs, MSPs, IT consultants, developers, software distributors and many entrepreneurs in advising and sourcing the right technology solutions. TBI serves as a partner's advocate, ensuring the proper provisioning of cloud, internet, data, mobility, voice, and managed services from best-in-class service suppliers to achieve clients' desired business outcomes.

For press inquiries, please contact marketing@appdirect.com.

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