Infinigate hails security focus as revenue tops €200m

Distributor hints it may follow up Vigil Software purchase by acquiring in France

Infinigate Group's founder has accused rival distributors of losing focus after his firm smashed the €200m (£163m) revenue barrier.

Fuelled in part by its recent acquisition of UK outfit Vigil Software, the Switzerland-based security specialist saw revenue hike 29 per cent in the 12 months to 31 March to €202m.

Talking to CRN, Infinigate Group founder and chief executive David Martinez (pictured) vowed that his firm would retain its laser focus on security as it presses on with its shopping spree.

Acquisition activity will centre on European countries in which it is not already present, Martinez indicated, with France and Turkey high up the pecking order.

"You will rarely see a competitor that focuses 100 per cent on security," Martinez said. "When they get bigger they all try to expand their capabilities and it dilutes their focus and maybe even their level of service.

"We believe that by focusing on security, we are able to provide a much better service to the market."

Organic growth stood at about 20 per cent, more than double the growth rate of the overall IT security market, Martinez added.

Founded in 1996, Infinigate currently operates in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, counting Dell SonicWALL, Trend Micro, Check Point and Sophos among its key group vendor franchises. Although backed by an unnamed angel investor, management hold the majority of shares and all acquisitions are self-funded.

While Infinigate is "number one" in most of its seven markets, the UK has room for growth, Martinez said.

"I expect in the next few years - I wouldn't break down whether this is two, three, four years - revenue in the UK will be €100m, as the potential is there," he said.

Alex Teh, joint managing director of Infinigate UK (pictured, right), said consolidation within the UK market has meant many competitors are now "too big to care".

"If you look at the number of distributors that have been acquired in the last five years, a huge gap has opened up and there is an incredible opportunity for mid-sized distributors," he said.

"If any vendors out there doing £2m to £10m in the UK approached us, we would roll out the red carpet for them."