# Research Ledger Reviewed through 2026-09-05. Focus: the UK and Ireland businesses. ## Method Prefer contemporary company announcements and official registers over retrospective summaries or search snippets. Distinguish opening, incorporation, acquisition announcement, and rebrand effective dates. Do not infer office-opening dates from contact pages. No personal names are included in the narrative. No absolute guarantee of historical completeness is claimed. ## Chronology ### 1983: A small town. A specialist idea. Grey Matter opens in Ashburton, Devon, supplying specialist software to developers. Software arrives on floppy disks. Expertise helps customers put it to work. The converted Old Maltings becomes the starting point for a much bigger story. Sources: [01], [02], [03] ### 1991: Another story takes shape. DataSolutions begins its own journey in Ireland. The specialist distributor builds relationships with technology vendors and resellers. Its independent story will join Climb's more than three decades later. Sources: [14] ### 2003: Meet Sigma. Sigma Software Distribution is founded, bringing specialist software to the reseller channel. Grey Matter serves developers and end customers. Sigma builds the distribution side of the story, connecting vendors with resellers across the UK and EMEA. Sources: [04], [05], [07] ### 2009: Built around the builders. Grey Matter launches a dedicated team for independent software vendors. Following its appointment as an Embarcadero Master Reseller in 2008, Grey Matter brings licensing specialists together to support the businesses that create software. Sources: [01] ### 2015: Know-how moves to the cloud. Cloud Know How launches as Grey Matter's technical services division. Grey Matter also becomes a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider. The year brings another organisational milestone: CDF Group Ltd is incorporated in April. Sources: [01], [15], [06] ### 2018: The marketplace moves online. GMCirrus launches as Grey Matter's cloud marketplace. Sigma adds its Reseller Gateway in 2019, giving partners a self-service quoting route. Software, cloud subscriptions and specialist support are becoming increasingly connected. Sources: [01], [09] ### 2020-11: Three strengths. A wider world. Wayside Technology Group acquires CDF Group, the UK parent of Grey Matter, Sigma and Cloud Know How. Wayside already owns Climb Channel Solutions. The acquisition brings the UK businesses' software, distribution and cloud expertise into a wider international group. Sources: [07], [08] ### 2021-07-05: Sigma becomes Climb. Sigma Software Distribution rebrands as Climb Channel Solutions UK. The first UK Climb identity keeps a touch of Sigma purple. Sigma Cloud becomes Climb Expedition. The name changes; the existing relationships continue. Sources: [09] ### 2022-04-11: Grey Matter goes further. TechXtend in the US and Canada adopts the Grey Matter name. The teams had joined the Grey Matter family in October 2021. Ireland is also part of the wider story before DataSolutions: the archived Cloud Know How site already offered an Irish contact route in January 2021, and Grey Matter records an Irish team in 2023. Sources: [11], [10], [02] ### 2022-10-31: A shared global name. Wayside Technology Group becomes Climb Global Solutions. The listed parent adopts the Climb name and the CLMB ticker. Earlier that August, UK distributor Spinnakar joined the group, adding cloud, storage, security and data-management expertise. Sources: [13], [12] ### 2023-05-10: Forty years. Still Grey Matter. Grey Matter celebrates its 40th anniversary, with teams in the UK, Ireland, the US and Canada. The original converted maltings is still its headquarters. The UK legal company has changed its name to Climb Global Solutions Ltd, but Grey Matter continues as a customer-facing brand. Sources: [02], [03], [19] ### 2023-10-09: The Irish story joins the family. Climb announces its completed acquisition of DataSolutions. The Ireland-based distributor brings more than 30 years of experience, deep reseller relationships and complementary technologies across the Irish and UK markets. Sources: [14] ### 2023-10-10: The know-how. Now global. Cloud Know How becomes Climb Global Services. Eight years after launch, the technical services team takes the Climb name. Its next chapter includes 24/7 coverage and an expanding range of migration, modernisation and managed services. Sources: [15] ### 2024-09-06: One channel. Shared ambition. DataSolutions rebrands to Climb Channel Solutions. Following the announcement of a unified global Climb logo in May, the September rebrand brings DataSolutions' UK and Irish distribution story under the Climb identity. Sources: [17], [16] ### 2026-09-05: Distinct strengths. One shared future. Climb Channel Solutions. Grey Matter. Climb Global Services. Distribution, software and cloud solutions, and technical services. Three complementary identities within Climb Global Solutions, with Grey Matter's Ashburton roots still part of the story. Sources: [18], [19], [20] ## Source Evidence and Date Decisions ### 01. 40 Years of Grey Matter Publisher: Grey Matter URL: https://greymatter.com/40-years-of-grey-matter/ Published: 2023 Evidence: Opening in Ashburton in 1983; developer software supplied on floppy disks; Embarcadero Master Reseller in 2008; ISV team in 2009; Cloud Know How and Microsoft CSP in 2015; GMCirrus in 2018. Decision: The anniversary timeline calls 1983 the incorporation year. Companies House records incorporation in 1982. This story uses 1983 for the opening of the business, supported by the anniversary announcement. Its 2020 reference to Climb Global Solutions is retrospective: the acquirer was then named Wayside Technology Group. ### 02. Celebrating 40 Years of Grey Matter Publisher: Grey Matter URL: https://greymatter.com/content-hub/celebrating-40-years-of-grey-matter/ Published: 2023-05-10 Evidence: The business opened in 1983. The original converted maltings remained its headquarters at the 40th anniversary. Teams in Ireland, the USA and Canada are explicitly recorded in 2023. Decision: Used to establish the documented international presence, not to assign an unverified opening date to an Irish office. The photographs in the anniversary archive are not individually dated. ### 03. Climb Global Solutions Ltd, company 01671407 Publisher: Companies House URL: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01671407 Published: Undated current page Evidence: Incorporated on 12 October 1982; named Grey Matter Limited from 3 December 1982 to 13 February 2023; now Climb Global Solutions Ltd. Decision: This is the UK legal company. It is distinct from the US-listed parent Climb Global Solutions, Inc. A legal name change does not mean that the Grey Matter trading brand ended. ### 04. Sigma Software Distribution continues long-standing relationship with Quest Publisher: Sigma Software Distribution / ResponseSource URL: https://pressreleases.responsesource.com/news/94869/sigma-software-distribution-continues-long-standing-relationship-with-quest/ Published: 2018-02-01 Evidence: Sigma's own press release explicitly dates its founding to 2003 and describes its software distribution role in the UK and EMEA. Decision: A company-issued release, independently hosted. Do not confuse this business with other companies named Sigma Software. ### 05. Sigma's archived About Us page Publisher: Sigma Software Distribution / Internet Archive URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20180109101155/http://www.sigmasd.com/partner/about-us/ Published: 2018-01-09 Evidence: The contemporary site describes growth since 2003 and its reseller and vendor relationships. Its footer uses company number 1671407, the Grey Matter legal entity. Decision: The date is the archive capture date, not the page's original publication date. This capture also documents the historic Sigma identity. ### 06. CDF Group Ltd, company 09556229 Publisher: Companies House URL: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/09556229 Published: Undated current page Evidence: The Ashburton-based CDF Group Ltd was incorporated on 23 April 2015. Decision: The register also records dissolution on 17 January 2023. The story does not treat CDF as a continuing 2026 brand or infer an acquisition date from incorporation alone. This is not the unrelated CDF Group company incorporated in 2024. ### 07. Wayside Technology Acquires CDF Group for $17.4 Million Publisher: Wayside Technology Group URL: https://www.climbglobalsolutions.com/investors/news-events/press-releases/detail/121/wayside-technology-acquires-cdf-group-for-17-4-million Published: 2020-11-09 Evidence: Announces the completed acquisition of CDF, the UK parent of Grey Matter, Sigma Software Distribution and Cloud Know How. Explains the complementary reseller, distribution and services capabilities. Decision: 9 November is the announcement date. The narrative says November 2020 and does not present the announcement as the precise legal closing date. Wayside was already the parent of Climb Channel Solutions. ### 08. Wayside Technology Group Acquires Grey Matter Publisher: Grey Matter URL: https://greymatter.com/content-hub/wayside-technology-group-acquires-grey-matter/ Published: 2020-11-18 Evidence: Corroborates Grey Matter and CDF joining Wayside, including the cloud marketplace, professional services and expanded international reach. Decision: This local announcement was published after the parent's 9 November announcement. ### 09. Sigma Software Distribution is now Climb Channel Solutions Publisher: Climb Channel Solutions UK URL: https://www.climbcs.com/uk/resources/sigma-software-distribution-is-now-climb-channel-solutions/ Published: 2021-07-05 Evidence: Sigma becomes Climb Channel Solutions UK. The initial UK Climb identity retains Sigma purple. The article also dates Reseller Gateway to 2019 and explains that Sigma Cloud becomes Climb Expedition. Decision: The rebrand preserves the existing company number and working relationships. Asset upload dates on the migrated site are not the event dates. ### 10. Cloud Know How website, January 2021 capture Publisher: Cloud Know How / Internet Archive URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20210123002011/https://www.cloudknowhow.com/ Published: 2021-01-23 Evidence: Documents the original services brand, a separate Irish contact route, and Cloud Know How's status as a trading entity of Grey Matter Limited before DataSolutions joined the group. Decision: An Irish contact route establishes a service presence, not a date for opening an Irish office. The capture date is not the brand's founding date. ### 11. TechXtend is now Grey Matter Publisher: Grey Matter URL: https://greymatter.com/content-hub/techxtend-is-now-grey-matter/ Published: 2022-04-11 Evidence: The US and Canadian reseller adopts the Grey Matter name after joining the Grey Matter family in October 2021. Expands Grey Matter's solutions and services presence in North America. Decision: An internal group integration and rebrand, not a new 2022 acquisition by Grey Matter. It does not establish the first-ever US sale or presence. ### 12. Wayside Technology Group to Acquire EMEA Channel Distributor, Spinnakar Limited Publisher: Wayside Technology Group URL: https://www.climbglobalsolutions.com/investors/news-events/press-releases/detail/194/wayside-technology-group-to-acquire-emea-channel Published: 2022-08-18 Evidence: The body announces the completed acquisition of UK-based Spinnakar, adding cloud, storage, security and data-management distribution capabilities. Decision: The original 2022 announcement takes precedence over a 2024 retrospective that gives 2021. Despite the future-tense headline, the release body says the acquisition is complete. ### 13. Wayside Technology Group Rebrands to Climb Global Solutions Publisher: Wayside Technology Group URL: https://www.climbglobalsolutions.com/investors/news-events/press-releases/detail/200/wayside-technology-group-rebrands-to-climb-global Published: 2022-10-27 Evidence: The corporate rebrand and Nasdaq ticker CLMB take effect on 31 October 2022. Grey Matter, Climb Channel Solutions and Cloud Know How are listed as business units. Decision: 27 October is the announcement; 31 October is the effective date. This is the US parent's rebrand, distinct from the UK company's February 2023 legal name change. ### 14. Climb Global Solutions to Acquire Leading Ireland and UK IT Distributor, DataSolutions Holdings Limited Publisher: Climb Global Solutions URL: https://www.climbglobalsolutions.com/investors/news-events/press-releases/detail/214/climb-global-solutions-to-acquire-leading-ireland-and-uk-it Published: 2023-10-09 Evidence: Records DataSolutions' history since 1991 and announces the completed acquisition of the Ireland-based distributor serving Irish and UK resellers. Decision: The release body confirms completion despite the future-tense title. 9 October is used as the announcement date, not an asserted legal closing date. DataSolutions had an independent history before joining Climb. ### 15. Cloud Know How rebrands to Climb Global Services Publisher: Grey Matter URL: https://greymatter.com/content-hub/cloud-know-how-rebrands-to-climb-global-services/ Published: 2023-10-10 Evidence: Cloud Know How becomes Climb Global Services after eight years of delivering technical services. Announces 24/7 coverage and a wider range of packaged services. Decision: This dated announcement is preferred to later undated about pages. Existing projects and company details continue through the rebrand. ### 16. Climb's Blueprint for Success: Unified and Forward-Thinking Publisher: Climb Channel Solutions UK URL: https://www.climbcs.com/uk/resources/climbs-blueprint-for-success-unified-and-forward-thinking/ Published: 2024-05-15 Evidence: Announces a unified global Climb Channel Solutions logo. Decision: Used only for the identity announcement. Its reference to a 2021 Spinnakar acquisition conflicts with the original 2022 release and is not repeated. ### 17. DataSolutions rebrands to Climb Channel Solutions UK Publisher: Climb Channel Solutions UK URL: https://www.climbcs.com/uk/resources/datasolutions-rebrands-to-climb-channel-solutions-uk-as-distributor-eyes-up-further-european-expansion/ Published: 2024-09-06 Evidence: Announces the DataSolutions rebrand and integration into Climb Channel Solutions following the October 2023 acquisition. Decision: Growth forecasts in the original release are not presented as realised results. The site uses Climb Channel Solutions for the combined UK and Ireland distribution story. ### 18. Company Information Publisher: Climb Global Solutions URL: https://www.climbglobalsolutions.com/investors/company-information Published: Undated current page Evidence: Describes Climb distribution, Grey Matter's UK and North American reseller operations, and Climb Global Services' technical services role. Decision: Current page reviewed on 5 September 2026. This is a snapshot of the brand family, not a claim that the group has only three legal entities or that all global operations originated in Grey Matter. ### 19. About Grey Matter Publisher: Grey Matter URL: https://greymatter.com/about/ Published: Undated current page Evidence: Grey Matter continues as a software and cloud service provider with UK, Ireland, US and Canadian teams and an Ashburton headquarters. Decision: Current page reviewed on 5 September 2026. Current office locations are not used to infer historical opening dates. ### 20. About Climb Global Services Publisher: Climb Global Services URL: https://climbglobalservices.com/about/ Published: Undated current page Evidence: Identifies the services business, its former Cloud Know How identity, and the group's distribution, reseller and services divisions. Decision: Current page reviewed on 5 September 2026. The page's ticker typo is not repeated; the parent's official rebrand release specifies CLMB. ## Deliberate Limits - The UK story begins with Grey Matter's 1983 opening, not a claim that the US parent was founded by Grey Matter. - Grey Matter's first Irish office opening date was not verified. The narrative documents the earlier Irish connection without assigning one. - The site's 2026 ending is a snapshot as of 5 September, not a retrospective account of the entire calendar year. - The original trading group's later acquisitions outside the UK and Ireland are outside this story's scope. Spinnakar is included briefly because it is relevant to UK distribution. - Archive photographs are undated. A photograph with Sigma signage cannot be treated as a 1983 photograph. - Historical brand artwork documents a captured identity, not necessarily its first introduction. Current artwork is illustrative of the continuing brand, not evidence of an earlier logo-launch date. - Financial forecasts, unverified founding-day precision and personal biographies are intentionally excluded.