SALTO Systems acquires Gantner in bid to strengthen access control solutions portfolio

SALTO SYSTEMS, the specialist electronic access control solutions developer, has moved to acquire Gantner Electronic Austria Holding GmbH (Gantner). In addition to Gantner, SALTO has added Clay (in the Netherlands) and Danish business Danalock to its portfolio in recent years, thereby strengthening the business’ position in cloud, mobile access and customer-centric solutions such as ticketing systems and cashless payment.

Gantner concentrates on access systems, electronic locking and locker systems, cashless payment, cash register and billing systems, staff time recording systems and ticketing and management software for leisure facilities. A customer-centric and service-minded culture positions the company as a preferred partner for a variety of customers ranging from SMEs through to industry-leading Fortune 500 companies.

The transaction was financed by a combination of capital increase, bank financing and cash. The capital increase amounts to €125 million and has been subscribed by both existing shareholders such as Alantra (Spain) and new investors including Sofina (Belgium), Peninsula Capital (Luxembourg) and Florac (France). Financial investors will hold a combined 30% stake in SALTO Systems, with the remainder retained by SALTO’s founding members and managers (60%) and private investors (10%).

Part of what attracted SALTO to Gantner is the latter’s strong commitment to R&D. “The addition of Gantner to the SALTO portfolio offers a very bright future when it comes to our ability to continue delivering the absolute Best-in-Class for electronic access control solutions,” said Javier Roquero, the co-founder and CEO of SALTO Systems. “The Gantner product suite offers a variety of innovative locking solutions as well as cashless payment and ticketing systems that enrich and diversify our product offer and will enhance the end user experience.”

Elmar Hartmann, CEO at the Gantner Group, responded: “Thanks to the new partnership with SALTO Systems, we can expand our product portfolio, take advantage of important synergies, better target our markets and address customer segments with enhanced precision. This puts us in an optimal position to continue our dynamic growth.”

Contactless solutions

With a combined workforce of 1,200 employees in 40 countries, including more than 230 dedicated to R&D, a turnover of €260 million and over one million access points delivered each year, the combined group consolidates its position as a global leader in the electronic access control market.

SALTO Systems and Gantner are now “ready and willing” to accomplish new growth projects together. The combined group will enable SALTO’s customers to offer their guests and employees a hassle-free end-to-end journey (eg access to car parks, main entrances, lifts, ticketing, cashless payment, lockers, office doors, canteens and leisure facilities all by using the same credentials).

“If there is one thing the global COVID pandemic has taught us, it is that the ability to deliver more contactless solutions managed by end users is very much needed and is here to stay,” explained Javier Roquero. “Gantner has developed a variety of solutions that allow end users more autonomy in gaining access, paying for merchandise and purchasing tickets as well as gaining entry to special events. This adds incredible value to our existing efforts to offer our customers more contactless solutions.”

Harbouring one of the broadest product portfolios in access control worldwide, SALTO can address almost every access point in a building and its perimeter. The company’s access control management software provides an intuitive user-centric software interface that makes it simple and secure to incorporate access control for any type of building size or end user need.