The Elovade Group (www.elovade.com), one of Europe’s leading value-added distributors of IT security and infrastructure software in Europe, has successfully completed the acquisition of the UK-based distributor Brigantia (www.brigantia.com), together with its investors NEXX Capital and Verdane. By entering the UK market, Elovade is not only tapping into one of Europe’s highest volume IT regions but also reaching a key milestone in its pan-European expansion strategy. The acquisition of Brigantia complements Elovade’s existing presence in the DACH region, Italy, Scandinavia and Switzerland.
The transaction is the largest acquisition in Elovade’s history. With this step, the company is not only expanding its geographical reach but also strengthening its solutions portfolio in the areas of IT security and managed services.
Strategic Move to Expand International Presence
Headquartered in Thirsk, near Manchester in the north of England, Brigantia is one of the UK’s leading value-added distributors with a clear focus on IT security and managed services. Its portfolio includes well-established vendors such as Heimdal, Hornetsecurity, Keeper Security and KnowBe4. With a specialised team of approximately 50 employees, Brigantia serves a growing partner network across the UK.
“The expansion into the UK was a strategically important move to broaden our international presence. In terms of market understanding, technological focus and company culture, Brigantia is an excellent fit for us,” said Philip Weber, CEO of Elovade. “With the experienced local team, strong market position and a clear focus on cybersecurity, we are adding a highly complementary business to our Group.”
Marcus Zeidler, CFO/COO of Elovade, added: “Brigantia was our preferred partner for entering the UK market – the company not only brings extensive channel expertise but also in-depth technical know-how. Together, we will create synergies, establish our Elovade Cloud Services in the UK and continue to pursue our growth strategy.”
Angus Shaw, formerly Brigantia’s Sales Director, will assume the role of Managing Director at the new UK location within the Elovade Group. While Brigantia will initially continue to operate under its own name, the plan is to integrate it into Elovade’s European brand structure in the medium term.
Angus Shaw says: “We’re delighted to be joining Elovade, a hugely successful business with a commitment to excellence. We see a great cultural fit, and this acquisition is an emphatic vindication of the strength of Brigantia and what we have achieved over many years. I look forward to our continued successes and the new opportunities we will share together.”
Strong Financial Backing from NEXX Capital (formerly HQ Equita) and Verdane
Elovade has been backed by NEXX Capital as majority owner since 2019. In early 2024, Verdane was added as another financially strong partner specialising in sustainable growth in European SMEs. Together with the management team led by Philip Weber and Marcus Zeidler, both investors continue to successfully drive forward the distributor’s proven buy-and-build strategy.
With this latest transaction – the eighth acquisition since 2021 – the group is further solidifying its position as one of the leading VADs in Europe. Since NEXX Capital’s entry, the Group’s revenue and EBITDA have more than tripled. At the same time, Elovade now employs around 200 people at six locations across Europe and serves over 12,000 active IT partners in the region.
Transaction Advisors
NEXX Capital (formerly HQ Equita) and Elovade were advised on the Brigantia transaction by Watson Farley & Williams (legal), BDO (financial & tax due diligence) and Singular Group AG (commercial due diligence). Brigantia was advised by KPMG (lead adviser) and Squire Patton Boggs (legal).
About Brigantia
Brigantia is a value-added cybersecurity distributor based in Yorkshire, UK, with an extensive partner base across the UK and Ireland comprising MSPs, MSSPs, VARs and other IT service providers. Founded in 1996, Brigantia operated across a variety of technology channel disciplines before exclusively shifting its focus to cybersecurity distribution in 2016, under the leadership of Angus Shaw. The company quickly established itself as a specialist, prioritising quality over reputation in its vendor portfolio and building a reputation for expertise, thought leadership and close collaboration with partners. Through sustained organic growth and under the continued leadership of Angus Shaw, Brigantia has subsequently become one of the largest cybersecurity distributors in the UK.
About Elovade
Elovade is one of the leading value-added software distributors in Europe, with a particular focus on IT security and cloud services. With 200 experts in Germany, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland, Elovade supports thousands of IT service providers and system houses throughout Europe in selling and implementing software. Partners benefit from a comprehensive range of services, which covers everything from training courses, workshops and a digital learning platform to audits and on-site integration in collaboration with our partners. In addition, Elovade supports software providers in launching new products in Europe with appropriate marketing and distribution strategies and therefore ensures consistently growing brand familiarity in the channel.
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