02/24/2014

QSC AG takes over encryption specialist FTAPI

Cologne, February 24, 2014. QSC AG, the leading ICT provider for medium-sized businesses in Germany, takes over 51 per cent of the shares in the Munich based FTAPI Software GmbH, a company specializing in encrypted data exchange between business customers.

The start-up was founded in 2010 and offers a range of products around high-security transfer and storage of confidential company data. With FTAPI, files can be transferred and stored at different security levels, from an SSL download link to an end-to-end encryption. The features can easily be integrated in existing CRM and ERP systems like SAP and Salesforce as well as in e-mail solutions like Outlook. The particularity: The encryption is very easy to handle, it works also with large data volumes in the gigabyte range and is available as a local software solution as well as a cloud service. Furthermore, FTAPI has developed branch-specific solutions, for example for transport, manufacturing, trade, media and finance.

With the acquisition of the security specialist QSC intensifies as planned the in-house development of innovative cloud-based services. At the same time FTAPI benefits from QSC's high-security data centres, the efficient distribution channels and the client base of over 30,000 business customers.

"Since the latest NSA spying scandal the security issue has become very important. FTAPI's own software development and their contemporary products are totally in line with this topic", says Juergen Hermann Chief Executive Officer of the QSC AG, stating a reason for the acquisition and emphasizes: "This is only the beginning. We want to keep providing companies and creative minds the opportunity to continue to develop their innovative products and to market them efficiently. This is part of our ICT strategy."

The total market for IT security in Germany has been growing steadily for a long time with growth rates of five per cent a year. QSC projects the submarket for IT security software relevant for FTAPI at currently 800 million euros with an annual growth of at least 10 per cent a year.

The company FTAPI GmbH already has renowned businesses among their customers such as Hochland Group, MAN Roland and SSI Schaefer. The two company founders and managing directors, Stephan Niedermeier and Daniel Niesler, will remain shareholders and continue to develop FTAPI for QSC in the years to come. They emphasize: "For us, QSC is the ideal partner. As far as we are concerned, there is no German company apart from QSC with a comparably high innovation speed which will influence the ICT market in such a significant way in the years to come."

The QSC AG buys the main part of their shares from the lead investor High-Tech Gruenderfonds as well as from Bayern Kapital and Gebrueder Mende GmbH.

Romy Schnelle, Senior Investment Manager of High-Tech Gruenderfonds, accompanied FTAPI on their way to this successful exit in only two years: "We are very pleased about the strong partnership between QSC and FTAPI. The merging of the two companies generates a high potential in distribution as well as in the technical product development."

Arno Nonnen, Dr. Schwarz-Schilling & Partners, worked as an M&A advisor for FTAPI.

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QSC: ICT solutions for medium-sized businesses
The company QSC AG offers medium-sized businesses extensive ICT services from one source: everything from telephony, data transfer, housing, hosting to IT outsourcing and IT consulting. As SAP Gold Partner and Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, QSC AG also has special knowledge in the field of SAP and Microsoft Implementation. In-house designed cloud services for very diverse applications complete the portfolio. With their own ultra-modern network infrastructure as well as Germany-based computer centres certified by TÜV and ISO, QSC is among the leading medium-sized providers of ICT services in Germany. The company offers both custom-made solutions for individual ICT requirements and a modular product portfolio for smaller business customers and distribution partners. QSC employs around 1,700 people and is listed in the TecDAX.

Queries to:
QSC AG
Arne Thull
Head of Investor Relations
Phone: +49 221 669-8724
Fax: +49 221 669-8009
E-mail: invest@qsc.de
Internet: www.qsc.de