In the last ten to twenty years, ICT has become an increasingly crucial part of business operations in virtually all sectors of the economy. This has led to a continuously growing demand for (external) ICT services, in particular among SMEs and medium-sized organizations that do not have the internal capacity to manage this. To respond to this trend, Futureproof Group was created, in which ICT service providers from the MKB Fonds portfolio work together. All these ICT companies focus their services based on their own strength and distinctiveness on the needs in their respective (local) market. Futureproof Group recently made a number of acquisitions, which are explained in more detail below.
Acquisition of Allround Computer Service
Allround Computer Service B.V. (‘ACS’) has been active in the world of ICT since its foundation on January 1, 1987. Partly due to the transparent and open working method, and the vision that 'everything must function', ACS has managed to build up a close-knit customer base. Customers can contact ACS for the delivery of the necessary hardware, whereby the specialists of ACS can serve the customer appropriately based on each specific need. ACS also offers a total package of solutions in the field of software and cloud services so that it is able to provide customized service to the customer.
An important specialty of ACS is ensuring suitable and robust ICT security. Workplace security is a subject that has received increasing attention in recent years. Through years of experience and specialist knowledge, ACS has developed into a specialist in the field of firewalls and security. ACS is located in Maasdijk, currently has 20 employees and manages more than 2,700 workplaces.
Acquisition Software Connection
Software Connection B.V. (‘Software Connection’) is an ICT service provider from Almere with four employees. Software Connection has a long history and has built up a good reputation in the market in the field of email management. In recent years, a search has been visible from a company that specializes in large and complex email (archive) migrations on a project basis, to a broader portfolio of services around email, including managed services. This company will be fully integrated within Advisor ICT, one of Futureproof Group's ICT service providers.
More than 500 employees
Since the participation of MKB Fonds in 2013, more than 20 acquisitions have been made and the number of employees has increased from 20 to approximately 500. Despite the fact that the size of the group has increased substantially in recent years, MKB Fonds still sees sufficient opportunities for further growth.
Emiel Havinga, director at MKB Fonds and Futureproof Group explains: “The market for ICT service providers is highly fragmented, which lends itself perfectly to consolidation by means of a 'Buy & Build strategy'. There are still many regions where we would like to have a branch, such as North Holland, East Netherlands and Brabant.”