VADition owner to buy in Germany

Exclusive Networks turns attention to German-speaking Europe for next targets

VADition's new owner will continue its pan-European shopping spree with Ger­man-speaking Europe its next port of call.

Paris-based Exclusive Net­works snapped up UK security and storage distributor VADition last month, building on its 2009 acquisition of Arc Technology.

Talking to CRN, chief executive Olivier Breittmayer said the Crédit Agricole-backed distributor would press ahead with its long-held plans to buy in Germany.

"Germany was our priority but the opportunity to do something with VADition came up and we decided to do that first," he said.

"German-speaking countries are still important to us."

The distributor opened a five-strong operation in Austria this week.

"In the next two to three years our plan is to be €300m [in turnover] but this could change with acquisitions," said Breitt­mayer. "Crédit Agricole came on board last year and it was very helpful on the VADition deal, which was a significant one."

Exclusive Networks and VADition share several key franchises including Forti­net, Palo Alto and Infoblox.

Anti-malware start-up FireEye signed up VADition in the UK and was in the process of agreeing terms with Exclusive in Europe when the deal occurred.

FireEye European operations director Paul Davis welcomed the merger. "VAD­ition is technically capable and commercially astute andunderstands the value of new technologies," he said.

"It is good at not only bringing products to market but integrating them and Exclusive is similar, having been key in bringing Iron­Port to market. It is a good match and ties in well with our European expansion."