01732 759725 10 BULLETIN evo secures refinancing package evo has been refinanced with increased funding facilities through its existing lending syndicate of Leumi ABL and Close Invoice Finance Limited. The facilities provided are an £80m invoice finance facility and £13m in term loans. This is a substantial facility, and the initial term is four years. The funding has enabled the company’s CEO Andrew Gale to lead a management buyout, which facilitates a successful exit for funds managed by Endless LLP, evo’s long-standing PE shareholder. Endless acquired Vasanta in 2009, and has supported the acquisitions of Office2Office in 2014, Premier Vanguard in 2019, and Complete Business Solutions in 2023. The group also acquired the Staples.co.uk license and Staples corporate book of business in 2020 and the 5Star brand in 2024 to further diversify both its product offering and routes to market. Gale will continue as Chief Executive supported by Jon Maxted, evo CFO and the evo trading board and team. Gale said: “From day one as Chief Executive the goal was to materially transform the trading results of evo and to enable an exit for Endless. The evo business has made major strides over the last couple of years and we are excited about the opportunities in front of us. This refinancing and transaction unlock the opportunity for evo to take on fresh investment to support our ambitions in terms of product and geographical expansion, all within a balanced multisales channel model.” www.evo-group.co.uk Softcat acquires Oakland In a significant move to enhance its capabilities in the data and AI space, Softcat has announced the acquisition of Leeds-based Oakland, a specialist data and AI consultancy. The acquisition will see Softcat and Oakland operate a phased plan to bring the two businesses closer together over the next few years. This approach will ensure both companies can maintain their unique strengths while providing comprehensive data solutions to their customers. Softcat CEO Graham Charlton said: “Data is one of the biggest opportunities ahead of us as the innovation in technology continues to shift rapidly towards a more automated and AI-driven world. Our customers need the right expertise to navigate this, so combining our market presence and broad portfolio with Oakland’s specialist capabilities will allow us to support them at every stage. Joining forces with Oakland is a great fit with our strategy and, most importantly, our culture.” www.softcat.com Zyxel recognised for sustainable practices Zyxel Group has once again made its mark by being included in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2025. Standing out among over 7,690 companies globally, Zyxel Group earned a spot in the top 5% of the communications equipment industry, showcasing its strong commitment to sustainable practices. www.zyxel.com Focus Group strengthens market position Focus Group has acquired Matrix247, a specialist in managed IT and communications services, a move that strengthens its market position and reflects its commitment to expanding service offerings for key market sectors. The news marks a further step in Focus Group’s progressive drive towards offering customercentric solutions to businesses across the UK, whilst delivering an unparalleled level of service, support and value to customers from an integrated network of regional hubs. For Matrix247, the acquisition provides significant opportunities for growth and enhanced service delivery. Stephen Pritchard, CEO of Matrix247 said: “Joining forces with Focus Group is an exciting step forward for Matrix247. It’s clear we share a like-minded vision, and this partnership enables us to leverage the combined strengths of Matrix 247’s and Focus Group’s proficiency in comms, IT and cyber security. Their scale, expertise, and investment will enable us to build upon the fantastic work our team has already achieved, further enhancing our solutions for our customers while maintaining the exceptional service we are known for.” https://focusgroup.co.uk TD SYNNEX adds to print and supplies portfolio TD SYNNEX has extended its distribution agreement with Canon in the UK and Ireland to include the company’s range of imageFORMULA document scanners, allowing the vendor’s partners to benefit from the stock-holding, logistics, financial and value-added services offered by TD SYNNEX, and making Canon document scan products accessible to more partners across the UK channel. Chris Bates, Business Unit Director – Print and Supplies, UK and Ireland said: “With the range of services we provide and our extensive enablement resources, TD SYNNEX is ready to support Canon partners business development and growth. “As digital transformation continues, there is sustained demand for reliable, efficient document scanning solutions that deliver the quality and performance for which Canon is renowned. The TD SYNNEX print and supplies team will be working with partners to help them understand and address the potential – and deliver benefits of Canon document scan solutions to their customers.” https://uk.tdsynnex.com Chris Bales
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