HTGF portfolio company Hornetsecurity acquires Spanish market leader Spamina

Hornetsecurity completed the acquisition of the Spanish email security company Spamina successfully. This makes the Hanover-based company the leading German email cloud security provider in Europe and expands its locations with offices in Madrid and Barcelona as well as in Central and South America. Spamina’s activities will continue as part of the Hornetsecurity Group, to provide customers of both companies with even more efficient technology and worldwide competent support.

The investors High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), Verdane Capital and HCS Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH are extremely satisfied with the successful development of Hornetsecurity. According to Ansgar Kirchheim from High-Tech Gründerfonds: “We have been accompanying Hornetsecurity since its foundation in 2007. With the acquisition of Spamina, Hornetsecurity will not only continue its outstanding expansion, but also be able to accelerate it.” Emanuel Johnsson of Verdane Capital agrees: “We are delighted with the great progress of Hornetsecurity. Especially the past two years and the dynamic growth of the company have shown that the management and its team are doing an excellent job. The acquisition of Spamina strengthens Hornetsecurity Group’s strategic position in the global IT security market”.

Acuity Advisors, a technology focused M&A advisory headquartered in the UK, initiated the successful acquisition. During the process, Oliver Markl advised and supported Hornetsecurity: “Hornetsecurity and Spamina complement each other perfectly, making them the leading operators in the European email cloud security market.”

Harbert European Growth Capital financed the deal and is also impressed by Hornetsecurity’s organic growth over the past few years: “With the acquisition of AVIRA’s spam filter division, the very professionally organized company has already shown how quickly the takeover and integration of a company can be implemented. We are very pleased to have been able to support Hornetsecurity in the successful accomplishment of its expansion plans”, says Johan Kampe, Senior Managing Director and co-Head of Harbert European Growth Capital.

Hornetsecurity remains on its dynamic growth course and is consistently continuing its international expansion. The team of Hornetsecurity expands to around 200 IT specialists, who from now on will provide bundled know-how for the qualitative and innovative cloud security solutions which existing business customers already know.

About Hornetsecurity Group
Hornetsecurity is the leading German cloud security provider in Europe, which protects the IT infrastructure, digital communication and data of companies and organizations of all sizes. The security specialist from Hanover provides its services worldwide via 9 redundantly secured data centers. The product portfolio covers all important areas of email security, including spam and virus filters, legally compliant archiving and encryption as well as defense against CEO fraud and ransomware. With around 200 employees, Hornetsecurity is represented globally at 11 locations and operates in more than 30 countries through its international distribution network. The premium services are used by approximately 40,000 customers including Swisscom, Telefónica, KONICA MINOLTA, LVM Versicherung, DEKRA, Claas, and the Otto Group.

About Spamina
Spamina  is a European-based IT security company which secures corporate digital communications. The Simile Fingerprint Filter® technology protects corporate networks from sophisticated attacks such as zero-day attacks. Spamina provides a secure communications environment that ensures business continuity, service scalability and cost efficiency. Cloud services range from enterprise-wide secure email platform, enterprise mobile management, email and IM gateway protection, to archiving, encryption and DLP solutions for legal compliances.

About High-Tech Gründerfonds
The seed investor High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) finances technology start-ups with growth potential. With a total volume of EUR 892.5 million distributed among three funds and an international partner network, the HTGF has supported more than 500 start-ups since 2005. Its team of experienced investment managers and start-up experts supports the young companies with know-how, entrepreneurial spirit and passion. The focus is on high-tech start-ups in the software, media and Internet industries as well as hardware, automation, healthcare, chemistry and life sciences. To date, external investors have invested more than 2 billion euros in the HTGF portfolio in around 1,400 subsequent financing rounds. In addition, the fund has successfully sold shares in more than 100 companies.

Investors in the public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, KfW, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the commercial enterprises ALTANA, BASF, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, B.Braun, Robert Bosch, BÜFA, CEWE, Deutsche Post DHL, Dräger, Drillisch AG, EVONIK, EWE AG, Haniel, Hettich, Knauf, Körber, LANXESS, media + more venture Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, PHOENIX CONTACT, Postbank, QIAGEN, RWE Generation SE, SAP, Schufa, Schwarz Group, STIHL, Thüga, Vector Informatik, WACKER and Wilh. Werhahn KG.

About Verdane
Verdane seeks to be the preferred investor and active owner of technology-enabled growth companies in Northern Europe. Verdane’s core investment strategy is to realize the potential of unlisted assets by being a knowledgeable and active owner. Verdane funds are distinctive in that they can invest in a single company, or in portfolios of companies. In each case, Verdane builds on its expertise and experience to unlock the underlying potential of small- and medium-sized growth companies.

About Harbert European Growth Capital
The Harbert European Growth Captial Funds (HEGC) seek to generate superior returns for their investors by identifying and investing in promising emerging growth stage technology and healthcare companies. The HEGC Funds’ Investment Team combines substantial investment, advisory, and operating experience with capital and networking contacts to support great entrepreneurial teams in successfully executing their growth plans.

More information can be found at www.hornetsecurity.com and www.spamina.com

Contact Information Public Relations
Hornetsecurity GmbH
Katharina Glasing
Am Listholze 78
30177 Hannover
Phone: +49 (511) 515 464 -117
EMail: presse@hornetsecurity.com