Arc Technology owner on the acquisition hunt

Pan-European distributor Exclusive Networks seeks to seal last gap by buying into German-speaking Europe

Breittmayer (left) and Reay shaking on the deal last July

The pan-European parent of security distributor Arc Technology is gearing up for its next acquisition to help reach its €300m (£266m) turnover goal.

Exclusive Networks grabbed a 60 per cent stake in Chesterfield-based McAfee and Kaspersky distributor Arc in July.

The Paris-based outfit now wants to plug the only remaining gap in its coverage by buying its way into German-speaking Europe in the second quarter of 2010.

Chief executive Olivier Breittmayer told CRN: “We are looking to add a new investor that is ready to pay for a potential acquisition – it could be €5m or €10m, depending on [the acquisition] we find.”

Breittmayer revealed that Arc’s 2009 turnover grew 28 per cent to £16m, helping to boost the group total from €49m to €82m year on year. Exclusive is gunning for €111m turnover this year and €300m by 2013, he said.

Arc will enjoy autonomy but should profit from being part of a larger group, Breittmayer explained.

“I see no reason to change everything as 28 per cent growth is good,” he said. “But we are in negotiations for Arc to have access to some of our best vendors, which started with Imperva and will continue.”

Arc managing director Stuart Reay said: “The difference between being a £15m UK distributor, and being part of a rapidly growing pan-European group, is incredible.

“Everything is well planned and funded with budgets in place for everything you could think of.”

Exclusive this month opened up in Finland, having new offices in Sweden and Portugal last year. “The idea is to have European coverage with good, mid-sized organisations in each country,” explained Breittmayer.