Expertise and complementarity: strengthening in both directions

Both companies share a strong reputation as reliable IT partners, with a high level of knowledge and expertise, functioning as an extension of their customers' IT organizations. At the same time, they strengthen each other's offerings on the one hand and complement them on the other.

VanRoey is an established expert in managed services and security, cloud, application, and connectivity solutions for both medium-sized and large enterprises and local and federal governments. Group K, founded in 2021 by Frank and Theo Keunen and strengthened by co-managing partner Stephan Krug, has grown in just a few years into a recognized player with 30 employees and around 200 customers. The IT integrator focuses primarily on the higher market segment and public contracts. Clients such as the Province of Limburg, Group Machiels, VVSG, ArcelorMittal, and Neuhaus rely on their extensive expertise.

“Cybersecurity is a top priority for our clients. Today's IT environments are becoming increasingly complex, while organizations are becoming more and more dependent on a reliable and secure digital infrastructure. Our goal is to fully unburden companies by delivering secure, high-performance, and managed ICT solutions," says Joachim Lauwers, CEO of VanRoey. "With Group K, we are bringing a complementary player on board to further strengthen our expertise and market position in the higher segment, not least in the area of managed security. This acquisition fits perfectly with our growth strategy of continuing to scale up while remaining locally anchored.”

All 30 Group K employees will remain on board and the management structure will be retained.

Strengthening partnership

Thanks to the integration, Group K customers will have access to VanRoey's broad expertise. In addition to areas such as security, cloud, storage, and connectivity, they will also be able to call on the application solutions within the Microsoft ecosystem and VanRoey's broad range of managed services. -services from VanRoey.

Conversely, Group K brings additional expertise in the areas of security, cloud, and connectivity for governments and large companies. For example, it has a large-scale framework contract for IT integration with Catholic Education in Flanders and the province of Limburg. In addition, Group K was also selected by VLAIO for a project to assist SMEs throughout Flanders in increasing their cybersecurity maturity.

“Like VanRoey, we are strongly committed to knowledge-driven services, with a personal approach and a focus on long-term partnerships. We share the same vision of IT as a strategic lever for our customers. By joining forces, we are creating a close alliance that will make both organizations stronger," says Frank Keunen, CEO of Group K. "Our customers will therefore be able to reap the benefits immediately.”

Growth ambition

With this acquisition, VanRoey confirms its ambition to become the Flemish reference in the field of managed ICT. Since the entry of investment fund Fortino Capital in 2022 , the focus has been on organic growth and strategic acquisitions. "Today, we are taking an important new step in realizing our growth ambitions. Together with Group K, VanRoey has now grown into a company with 250 employees, with an expected annual turnover of more than €70 million by the end of 2025 and a strong footprint in Antwerp and Limburg. We expect to announce additional acquisitions in the future to further strengthen our position as a partner for complex IT environments throughout Flanders.", concludes Joachim Lauwers.