Exclusive: Acquisitive distie QBS moves into the Baltics

UK software distributor acquires Lithuanian counterpart UAB Laknova

UK software distributor QBS has continued its expansion into Europe by taking its first steps into the Baltics.

The firm has acquired UAB Laknova, based in Vilnus, Lithuania.

The enterprise software distributor was founded in 2012 and is the fifth-largest dedicated software distie in the Baltics.

It counts Symantec, Alien Vault and Barracuda among its vendor partners and generates a "seven-figure revenue", according to QBS MD Dave Stevinson.

The move marks the third acquisition for QBS this year, after purchasing French distie Siener Informatique and Warrington-based Zedsphere.

"The Baltic region is quite a fast-growing area and there is good penetration into the Nordics from there as well," Stevinson (pictured) told CRN.

"Our plan is to become the leading software delivery platform in Europe and the Baltic states are a part of Europe. So we cover every territory for our vendors and for our clients."

Stevinson explained that UAB Laknova was a "natural fit" for the QBS group.

"It's similar to what we do, it has a similar supply base and they are a good customer of ours, but the most important thing is we had a really good relationship with the management," he said.

UAB Laknova will be integrated into QBS over the next 18 months and its addition brings the group's headcount to 75.

QBS has also formed a subsidiary company in Ireland, based in Cork to add to its offices in London, Telford, Warrington, Paris and Vilnius.

The rationale for the move is to ensure proximity to vendors and also to be a part of the hive of tech activity currently happening in Cork, according to Stevinson.

"The number one reason [for setting up in Cork] is to be closer to some of our vendors who are based over there," he said.

"Reason number two is to have some staff over there to insert ourselves into the Irish market and Cork is a hub of IT activity. The software space there is really growing - it's exciting and vibrant."

Stevinson was coy on whether more acquisitions were on the cards for this year.

"Probably not, but potentially yes," he said.

"We're seriously looking at expanding in other territories on a step-by-step basis. We have to find the people who meet our ideology and work the way we like to work."