First Mobile expands

By RICHARD WOOD

Vodafone mobile phone dealer First Mobile has expanded its empire, buying 13-store chain Mobiletronics from Christchurch-based Armeadon New Zealand.

Armeadon is owned by Australian businessman Graham Hosking, owner of the Mobiletronics chain in Australia.

The buy will give First Mobile a solid stake in the South Island with seven more stores there and follows its buying business-focused Corporate GSM on February 1.

First Mobile is majority-owned by businessman Peter Taylor, with the remaining ownership in the hands of manager Richard Pallesen.

The ownership proportions and purchase price were not disclosed.

Some of the original First Mobile stores are separately owned on a licensee basis, but Mr Pallesen said there were no plans for more such owner-operators.

Before the acquisitions this year the company had one South Island store, in Nelson.

With the new total of 56 stores, Mr Pallesen claims the largest independent mobile dealership in the country, extending from Kaitaia to Dunedin.

The Mobiletronics name will remain until an overall branding and marketing strategy is finalised.

Mr Pallesen said existing employees would be retained.