Wed, 01 Apr 2026 | BUSINESS SALE
A Rochdale-based tech firm has been acquired by a private equity-backed software distributor in a strategic deal that accelerates its UK growth. Zen Software, which was founded over 25 years ago, supports more than 2,000 UK resellers and managed service providers (MSP).
The company has been acquired by The Elovade Group, a specialist European value-added software distributor for IT security and cloud services that is backed by investors NEXX Capital and Verdane.
The acquisition of Zen Software is Elovade’s ninth in Europe and represents the first add-on deal for the group’s UK operating entity Brigantia by Elovade, which joined the business last year.
Post-acquisition, Zen Software’s operational infrastructure, partner network, vendor relationships and team will be fully integrated into Brigantia by Elovade, operating as Zen Software by Elovade.
The deal is described as significantly expanding Yorkshire-based Brigantia by Elovade’s UK offering in key service areas, including email archiving and backup.
Since joining the Elovade Group in 2025, Brigantia has grown its product team and broadened its expertise beyond its core cybersecurity focus, as well as increasing the range of vendors that it works with.
The Zen Software product portfolio includes products, including MailStore and MDaemon, that are already widely used across the Elovade Group, meaning the acquisition is a strong practical fit.
Angus Shaw, Managing Director of Brigantia by Elovade, said the deal was “a logical next step in building our UK platform”, adding that Zen Software would deliver “immediate scale, a highly complementary partner base and long-standing vendor relationships.”
Shaw continued that the combined business would be well positioned to further expand Elovade’s reach in the UK’s MSP and reseller market.
Zen Software Managing Director Ross McWilliam stated: "Becoming part of the Elovade Group provides us with a strong platform for future growth. With the group’s broader resources and European network, we can further develop our business while continuing to support our partners with the same focus and expertise they are used to."
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