BRIGHTSTAR CORP. BECOMES #1 WIRELESS DISTRIBUTOR IN THE WORLD
2005 Revenue of $2.25 Billion Makes Brightstar Largest Global Wireless Distribution & Supply Chain Management Company
MIAMI February 13, 2006 – BARCELONA, 3GSM WORLD CONGRESS — Brightstar Corp. announced today it has become the largest wireless distribution and supply chain management company in the world, based on 2005 revenues among distribution companies that publicly report their revenues. The company’s revenues in 2005 exceeded $2.25 Billion. Founded only eight years ago in 1997, Brightstar has experienced phenomenal growth since its inception, averaging 64% growth year over year. Brightstar has significantly grown its presence to support its global customer base, operating 30 facilities in 25 countries worldwide. The company initially built its business by supplying wireless handsets to network operators in Latin America. Today, the company supplies products and services to the wireless industry on five continents, serving over 160 network operators and more than 25,000 retailers, resellers and agents worldwide. “Since we opened our doors, we had a clear goal to become a world class company and I am extremely proud that we have achieved world class results,” said R. Marcelo Claure, president & CEO of Brightstar. Over the past several years, the company has focused on a number of growth strategies which have been the basis of Brightstar’s success, including:
• Expansion of Service Offerings – Brightstar supplies sophisticated, end-to-end supply chain solutions to network operators, retailers and resellers around the world, offering logistics expertise to drive costs out of customer’s operations.
• Product Portfolio Line Additions – Brightstar successfully supports a number of advanced wireless data products alongside their primary wireless device business. The company also manufacturers and sells fixed wireless handsets to meet the needs of a variety of specific markets. To date, Brightstar has sold over 1.2 million fixed wireless units.
• Significant Strategic Relationships – Brightstar’s relationship with wireless communications innovator Motorola continues to expand and strengthen in new markets. Motorola is the market-share leader in the Americas, number two in Europe, the new number two in North Asia, and number three in high growth markets. In addition, Brightstar works with all other major global manufacturer handset brands and is assisting a number of new entrants into the market.
• Geographic Expansion to High Growth Markets – Brightstar’s dominance in Latin America has been enhanced as the company has entered new markets. Today, the company operates 30 facilities in 25 countries on five continents, including:
Asia – India, Hong Kong
Australia
Middle East/Africa – Dubai
Latin America – Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela
North America – US/Canada
Ray Roman, senior vice president, worldwide sales from Motorola, said “We congratulate Brightstar on this major milestone. Brightstar has been a tremendous partner for Motorola, assisting us in growing our market share and building our brand in many markets globally.” ““It is our strong relationships with our investors, banks and business partners along with our successful history of managing our working capital that has provided the platform for consistent year over year profitable growth,” said Oscar Fumagali, Brightstar chief financial officer. Brightstar reported year ending revenues of $2.25 billion. It’s closest competitor announced revenues of $2.1 billion for 2005. Brightstar Corp. is a privately-held company that has achieved extraordinary growth; almost doubling its revenues each year since its founding in October 1997-$73 million in 1998, $140 million in 1999, $355 million in 2000, $630 million in 2001, $849 million in 2002, $1.2 billion in sales in 2003, $1.75 billion in 2004 and $2.25 billion in 2005, making it the largest wireless distribution and supply chain management company in the world.
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About Brightstar
Brightstar Corp. is the leading wireless distributor and supply chain solutions provider for the global wireless telecom industry. . Headquartered in Miami, FL, Brightstar has operations in Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Dubai, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay, the U.S. and Venezuela. The company serves over 160 network operators and 25,000 resellers, retailers and agents around the world and also represents many of the world’s leading wireless manufacturers. The company exceeded $2.25 billion in revenue in 2005.