Bechtle : expands lineup in the Netherlands

• Fondo ICT Professionals latest addition to the Bechtle Group
• Bechtle subsidiary PQR incorporates VMware specialist
• Bechtle continues to grow its international footprint

Neckarsulm, 4 April 2023 - Bechtle AG today announced the acquisition of Fondo ICT Professionals B.V., adding to its lineup in the Netherlands. A specialist in VMware and software applications, Fondo is a firmly established service provider for modern workplace, multi-cloud and software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions with a portfolio that blends in with that of PQR, also in the Netherlands, purchased by Bechtle in 2022. Founded in 2007, Utrecht-based Fondo has 42 employees who in the past fiscal year achieved a business volume of some 41 million euros. Since Fondo generates software revenue as an agent under the applicable recognition model, the company's reported revenue amounts to 8.8 million euros. Fondo's fusion into PQR is set to follow the same successful blueprint applied during the acquisition of Axez last year, and with its current executive management taking on leading roles under the new brand.

Following its 2022 acquisitions of PQR B.V. in May, and Axez ICT Solutions B.V. in July, Bechtle is once again expanding its footprint in the Netherlands. With Fondo, the Bechtle Group is integrating a renowned specialist for products of its long-standing vendor partners, VMware and Microsoft, growing its competence in forward-facing modern-workplace, multi-cloud and SaaS solutions. Onboarding Fondo's 42 employees, all with shining credentials in their respective fields, also allows PQR to take the pressure off the search for hard-to-come-by experts. With PQR and Fondo both based in Utrecht, Bechtle aims for the consolidated companies to operate from a shared location. The workforce within the Bechtle Group's IT services segment in the Netherlands thus climbs to 250 people across the Utrecht and Rijswijk sites. Marc van Rinsum, Kees Vink and Marcel Lagendijk, who make up Fondo's management board, will all remain with the company.

"Fondo adds great competence and experience in VMware and Microsoft to our offering, informing tailored solutions for our customers' digital workspaces. This expertise is an excellent fit for our SpaceHub concept that puts innovation front and centre," says Marijke Kasius, CEO, PQR.

PQR's managed services offering, dubbed SpaceHub, helps companies shift into the cloud and unlock resources through an as-a-service model. A key aspect of SpaceHub is modern workplace management, which is gaining significant strength through the acquisition.

Marc van Rinsum, founding member and managing partner of Fondo: With our VMware and Microsoft-based workplace solutions all developed to a very advanced level, we were looking for new ways to grow our business. As a new member of the Bechtle Group, and together with PQR, we now have the size and capabilities to reach even more customers while continuing to innovate."

Building on a strong Bechtle presence in the Netherlands
"Fondo is a round peg for a round hole, just who we need to offer our customers an attractive, future-oriented portfolio. The addition strengthens PQR's foothold as a future-first IT partner, in particular for multi-cloud and service solutions," says Konstantin Ebert, EVP for France, Benelux and UK, Bechtle AG.

Bechtle has been active in the Dutch market since 1998 with its e-commerce subsidiaries, Bechtle direct and, since 2006, ARP. With Cadmes B.V., the group also has a successful CAD/PLM specialist. Together with PQR, Axez-which has been merged with PQR-and now also Fondo, the Bechtle Group has a network spanning the Netherlands' western economic areas from Maastricht to Eindhoven, 's-Hertogenbosch to Utrecht and Hoofddorp near Amsterdam, as well as Rijswijk near The Hague. Thus, the Bechtle Group now employs just shy of 800 staff in the Netherlands.

As is usual, the purchase price and conditions remain confidential.