Press Release

XPLUS shows rising ambitions after its acquisition by M80

XPLUS, a Belgian expert in enterprise IT architecture, has obtained the backing of M80, a Private Equity Fund, to build a European leader in digital transformation.

Brussels, 21 April 2022

XPLUS announces today that the private equity fund M80 has acquired a majority stake in the company. Together with M80, XPLUS has the ambition to build a European full-service provider in digital transformation.

Founded in 2010, XPLUS provides expert advice in enterprise IT architecture – a crucial role to develop digital transformation blueprints. It has experienced steady growth of around 30% per year to an expected turnover of c. 20 million euros in 2022. XPLUS differentiates itself through its thought leadership and extensive expertise in business and IT architecture, its partnership with Antwerp Management School, and its expanded offering which now includes programme and change management. This makes XPLUS the trusted advisor of several of the BeNeFralux’ premier organizations, with a strong footprint in sectors like banking, insurance, retail and telco.

While XPLUS will keep focusing on its core business, it will make select acquisitions in Europe with the aim of building a group of best-in-class specialists in digital transformation – from strategy definition to implementation support. The XPLUS architects will be at the drawing board of the digital and business transformations that companies aim to undertake and will rely on superior capabilities within the group to enable a coordinated execution.

Wim Vochten, XPLUS founder and CEO, remains an important shareholder. MD Kris Marchi and the XPLUS leadership team invest significantly in this new chapter.

M80 will support XPLUS in its buy-and-build effort, both financially and through its deep expertise in M&A execution, integration, and digital transformation.

Wim Vochten, CEO XPLUS: “We work for many prominent national and international clients, mainly in Belgium, the Netherlands and France. With the support from M80 we will broaden our activities through targeted acquisitions in the BeNeFraLux to better meet client demands. This will also create new and more interesting opportunities for our current staff.”

Kris Marchi, Managing Director XPLUS: “The investment we make with our broad and senior leadership team demonstrates a long-term commitment and belief in the succes of an IT service provider of the highest level. Our business depends on the quality of our people – the new journey with M80 offers new ways to let them benefit form the growth of XPLUS.”

Carl Annicq, M80 Partners: “We have been impressed with the work by XPLUS at our portfolio companies. In a sea of mediocrity, they stand out with superior IT architecture capabilities – a bottleneck skill for digital transformations. We see XPLUS as the ideal foundation to build a strong European IT services group.”

About XPLUS

• Founded in 2010 by Wim Vochten, XPLUS provides consulting services focused on digital transformation through the implementation of business-critical enterprise IT architecture and digital solutions in the BeNeFraLux.
• Among its 100+ highly experienced consultants, 75% worked earlier as a principal consultant or partner with a top 5 consultancy firm.
• XPLUS serves blue chip clients in a variety of sectors, mainly in banking, insurance, telco and retail.
• More information on https://www.xplus.eu/

About M80

• M80 Partners is the management company of M80 Capital, a private equity fund established in November 2018, investing in companies in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
• Founded by Peter Maenhout, the investment team consists of seasoned private equity professionals, but also entrepreneurs, former CEOs and digital pioneers.
• The company focuses on growth companies in healthcare, consumer, business services and industry. The M80 team invests in companies it can help digitally transform to accelerate sales and improve operations.
• More information on https://m80partners.com/