ALSO Holding

ALSO Holding AG, commonly referred to as ALSO Group, is a Switzerland-based technology provider focused on information and communications technology distribution, solutions and subscription-based services. The company is headquartered in Emmen in the canton of Lucerne and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker ALSN.SW. The Droege Group is its majority shareholder. The business operates primarily as an intermediary between technology vendors and resellers. Its ecosystem connects approximately 140,000 resellers with more than 800 vendors across about 1,680 product categories. The portfolio spans computing and networking hardware, software, IT infrastructure, professional services, cloud subscriptions and technology platforms. Rather than operating chiefly as a consumer-facing electronics brand, ALSO functions as a channel-oriented technology platform that helps vendors reach regional markets and helps resellers procure, configure and commercialize technology offerings. ALSO organizes its activities into three broad areas. The Supply division covers transactional hardware and software distribution. The Solutions division supports customers with the development and delivery of customized IT solutions. The Service area centers on recurring and subscription-based offerings, including cloud services delivered through the ALSO Cloud Marketplace, as well as platforms and services related to cybersecurity, virtualization and artificial intelligence. This structure reflects the shift in ICT distribution from one-time product sales toward managed services, cloud consumption and integrated business solutions. The company was founded in 1984 and became publicly listed in Switzerland in 1986. In 1988, Schindler Holding AG became its majority owner. A major corporate change occurred in 2011, when the activities of Germany's Actebis and Switzerland's ALSO Holding were merged and the combined company adopted the name ALSO-Actebis Holding. The name reverted to ALSO Holding AG in 2013. From 2014 onward, ALSO expanded its geographic coverage and service capabilities through a series of acquisitions and other transactions. These included the 2019 acquisition of Bulgarian IT solutions distributor Solytron, the 2021 acquisition of Spanish value-added distributor Ireo Soluciones y Servicios, and the 2024 completion of acquisitions involving SWS and Entec in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 2024, the group also announced the acquisition of Westcoast, a major United Kingdom IT distributor, materially strengthening its presence in Western Europe. In February 2025, ALSO entered the United States through its cloud business, extending its platform model beyond its established European base. According to the cited Wikipedia reference, ALSO employed more than 5,000 people and generated net sales of approximately EUR 15.2 billion in 2025. The same reference describes 2025 as a record-results year. These figures relate to the 2025 financial period and should not be treated as historical or current estimates outside that period. Overall, ALSO is positioned as a large-scale European ICT channel infrastructure provider, combining logistics and distribution with cloud marketplaces, solutions capabilities and recurring digital services.

ALSO was established in Switzerland in 1984 and entered the Swiss public market in 1986. Its early development placed it within the information-technology distribution sector, where the company connected hardware and software suppliers with resellers and business customers. In 1988, Schindler Holding AG became the majority owner, linking ALSO to a larger Swiss industrial group while the company continued to develop its technology-distribution activities. A decisive restructuring took place on February 9, 2011, when the activities of Germany-based Actebis were merged with those of ALSO Holding. The combined organization was named ALSO-Actebis Holding and retained its headquarters in Switzerland. The transaction created a broader European distribution platform and brought together businesses with complementary geographic and channel capabilities. On March 14, 2013, the company changed its name back to ALSO Holding AG, restoring the identity under which it had developed in Switzerland. During the period from 2014 through 2024, ALSO pursued expansion through acquisitions and business development intended to increase both geographic reach and the range of services offered to technology channels. In October 2019, it completed the acquisition of Solytron Bulgaria, an IT solutions distributor that strengthened its presence in Bulgaria. In October 2021, ALSO acquired Ireo Soluciones y Servicios in Spain. Ireo had a value-added distribution model and a focus on small and medium-sized businesses; ALSO planned to connect its activities with the ALSO Cloud Marketplace, reflecting the group's increasing emphasis on cloud-based and recurring services. The group's Central European footprint expanded further in 2024 through completed acquisitions involving SWS and Entec in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. ALSO also announced the acquisition of Westcoast, one of the United Kingdom's larger IT distributors. The Westcoast transaction was strategically important because it increased ALSO's exposure to Western Europe and supported its ambition to operate as one of Europe's largest technology providers. ALSO's operating model evolved alongside these geographic moves. Its traditional Supply division continued to handle transactional hardware and software. The Solutions division addressed the design and delivery of customized technology projects, while the Service area focused on subscription-based cloud offerings and platforms for cybersecurity, virtualization and artificial intelligence. The ALSO Cloud Marketplace became a central mechanism for delivering cloud services to resellers and their customers. In May 2024, Wolfgang Krainz became chief executive officer, succeeding Gustavo Möller-Hergt. Krainz had joined ALSO in 2016 and had held senior commercial and regional responsibilities before taking the top executive position. In February 2025, ALSO entered the United States through its cloud business, extending its platform proposition into a new national market while retaining Europe as its principal operating base. The cited reference describes ALSO as active in 31 European countries, with additional global reach through platform-as-a-service partners. It reports an ecosystem of roughly 140,000 resellers and more than 800 vendors spanning approximately 1,680 product categories. For 2025, the reference states that the company employed more than 5,000 people and recorded net sales of about EUR 15.2 billion, describing the year as a record-results period. No additional financial periods are asserted here without separately verified financial sources.

• 2025

  U.S. cloud-market entry

  [1]ALSO Holdingen.wikipedia.org

  ALSO enters the United States through its cloud business.

• 2024

  Expansion in Czech Republic and Slovakia

  [1]ALSO Holdingen.wikipedia.org

  Acquisitions involving SWS and Entec are completed, extending ALSO's Central European coverage.

• 2024

  Westcoast acquisition announced

  [1]ALSO Holdingen.wikipedia.org

  ALSO announces the acquisition of United Kingdom distributor Westcoast, strengthening its Western European presence.

• 2024

  Wolfgang Krainz becomes CEO

  [1]ALSO Holdingen.wikipedia.org

  Wolfgang Krainz takes over as chief executive officer in May, succeeding Gustavo Möller-Hergt.

• 2021

  Ireo acquisition in Spain

  [1]ALSO Holdingen.wikipedia.org

  ALSO acquires Ireo Soluciones y Servicios and targets integration of its value-added distribution capabilities into the ALSO Cloud Marketplace.

• 2019

  Solytron Bulgaria acquisition

  [1]ALSO Holdingen.wikipedia.org

  ALSO completes the acquisition of Bulgarian IT solutions distributor Solytron.

• 2013

  The company returns to the ALSO Holding name

  [1]ALSO Holdingen.wikipedia.org

  The corporate name changes from ALSO-Actebis Holding back to ALSO Holding AG.

• 2011

  Actebis and ALSO activities are merged

  [1]ALSO Holdingen.wikipedia.org

  The activities of Germany's Actebis and Switzerland's ALSO Holding are combined, and the company adopts the name ALSO-Actebis Holding.

• 1988

  Schindler becomes majority owner

  [1]ALSO Holdingen.wikipedia.org

  Schindler Holding AG becomes the majority owner of ALSO.

• 1986

  Shares begin trading on the Swiss stock exchange

  [1]ALSO Holdingen.wikipedia.org

  ALSO becomes listed on the Swiss stock exchange, later trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange under ALSN.SW.

• 1984

  ALSO is founded

  [1]ALSO Holdingen.wikipedia.org

  ALSO is established in Switzerland as an information-technology distribution company.

A European ICT channel platform combining broadline hardware and software distribution with customized solutions, cloud subscriptions and technology marketplaces for vendors, resellers and business customers.

• hardware_distribution

  Transactional IT hardware

  The Supply division distributes computers, networking equipment and other information-technology hardware through ALSO's reseller and vendor ecosystem. The business is primarily channel-facing rather than a direct-to-consumer retail operation. The available reference identifies the category but does not provide a verified list of individual manufacturers, brands or model families.

• software_distribution

  Software distribution and licensing

  ALSO distributes software and supports software licensing as part of its transactional Supply activities. This category complements hardware distribution and gives resellers access to packaged software and related commercial programs. Specific vendor agreements, product names and licensing terms are not identified in the supplied reference.

• cloud_services

  ALSO Cloud Marketplace

  The ALSO Cloud Marketplace is the group's platform for subscription-based cloud offerings. It enables resellers to provision and commercialize cloud services for their customers and is also used to support the integration of acquired value-added distribution businesses. The broader service portfolio includes cloud, cybersecurity, virtualization and artificial-intelligence capabilities.

• IT_solutions

  Customized IT solutions

  Through its Solutions division, ALSO supports the development and delivery of customized IT solutions. This activity extends the company beyond standardized product distribution into project-oriented work for business and channel customers. The supplied material does not specify particular solution architectures, industries or named implementation products.

• technology_platforms

  Cybersecurity, virtualization and AI platforms

  The Service area includes platforms and subscription-oriented services related to cybersecurity, virtualization and artificial intelligence. These offerings support ALSO's strategy of combining distribution with recurring digital services. Individual platform names, product launch dates and vendor-level specifications are not confirmed by the available source.

• 2025

  Enter the United States through cloud servicesStrategy

  Background

  ALSO had an established European distribution network and sought additional reach through its platform and cloud capabilities.

  Action taken

  The group entered the United States market through its cloud business.

  Aftermath

  The move extended ALSO's cloud-led international strategy beyond Europe; the supplied source does not specify the U.S. operating entity or detailed rollout plan.

  Source

• 2024

  Expand Central European and United Kingdom coverageM&A

  Background

  ALSO sought to increase geographic scale and strengthen its position as a major European technology provider.

  Action taken

  The group completed acquisitions involving SWS and Entec in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and announced the acquisition of Westcoast in the United Kingdom.

  Aftermath

  The transactions broadened ALSO's Central and Western European distribution footprint, although the supplied material does not provide transaction values or completion details for every component.

  Source

• 2021

  Acquire Ireo and integrate it with the cloud marketplaceM&A

  Background

  Ireo Soluciones y Servicios was a Spanish value-added distributor with a focus on small and medium-sized businesses.

  Action taken

  ALSO acquired Ireo and intended to integrate its activities into the ALSO Cloud Marketplace.

  Aftermath

  The deal aligned a value-added distribution business with ALSO's expansion into cloud-based and recurring services.

  Source

• 2011

  Merge Actebis activities with ALSOM&A

  Background

  ALSO and Germany-based Actebis combined their operating activities to create a broader European technology-distribution organization.

  Action taken

  The merged company adopted the name ALSO-Actebis Holding and retained its headquarters in Switzerland.

  Aftermath

  The transaction expanded the combined group's European channel platform; the company later reverted to the ALSO Holding name in 2013.

  Source

1. 1ALSO Holdingen.wikipedia.org