{{Short description|German Cybersecurity Company}} {{Infobox company | name = Utimaco | logo = Utimaco-Logo.svg | type = Private | industry = Cybersecurity, Compliance Solutions | founded = 1983 | key_people = * Stefan Auerbach (CEO) * Heino Erdmann (CFO) * Håcan Tiwemark (COO) * Cindy Provin (CSO) * Stefan Zeichner (Senior Vice President Utimaco TS GmbH) | num_employees = 500+ <small>(2024)</small> | parent = SGT Capital Group | website = [https://www.utimaco.com Official website] }} '''Utimaco''' is a company active in the sector of cybersecurity and compliance solutions with headquarters in Aachen, Germany, and Campbell, California, USA. Founded in 1983, the company provides on-premises and cloud-based hardware security modules, key management, data protection as well as data intelligence solutions for regulated critical infrastructures and Public Warning Systems.
== Products and services == Utimaco's product portfolio includes: * Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) * Key Management Solutions * Data Protection * Data Intelligence Solutions * Public Warning Systems == History == === Early years === In mid-1983, Horst Görtz acquired the computer centre company ''Utilisation des Machines Comptables'', and renamed it ''uti-maco software GmbH'' (an abbreviation of the original name).<ref name=":33">{{Cite news |date=1992-06-12 |title=Uti-Maco Software GmbH / Mit Datenschutz-Programmen rund um den Globus. |language=de |trans-title=Uti-Maco Software GmbH / Around the globe with data protection programs. |pages=19 |work=Handelsblatt |url=https://archiv.handelsblatt.com/document/HB__069212164%7CHBPM__069212164/hitlist/0?all= |access-date=2023-03-14}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite news |date=2003-09-09 |title=Utimaco erhält mehr Kapital |language=de |trans-title=Utimaco receives more capital |pages=24 |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |url=https://fazarchiv.faz.net/faz-portal/document?uid=FAZ__FD2200309092010712 |access-date=2023-03-14}}</ref> In 1990, the company moved from Frankfurt to Oberursel.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Pfeifer |first=Petra |date=2003-12-27 |title=Utimaco sorgt auch beim FBI für Datensicherheit |language=de |trans-title=Utimaco also ensures data security at the FBI |pages=16 |work=Frankfurter Neue Presse}}</ref> One year later, Utimaco established its first subsidiary in the USA.<ref name=":33" /> In 1994, the company merged with the Austrian Safeware Ges.mbH in Linz<ref>{{Cite news |date=1995-09-04 |title=Schnelles Wachstum mit Datensicherheit |language=de |trans-title=Rapid growth with data security |pages=18 |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |url=https://fazarchiv.faz.net/faz-portal/document?uid=FAZ__F19950904UTI30--100 |access-date=2023-03-14}}</ref> and subsequently changed from a private company (GmbH) to a joint-stock corporation, the Utimaco Safeware AG.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1995-01-04 |title=Handelsregister-Bekanntmachung HRB 5302 - 28. 11. 1994: Utimaco Safeware AG |language=de |trans-title=Trade Register Notice |work=Bundesanzeiger}}</ref> Later that year, Utimaco took over the Dutch distributor D&R, which had been Utimaco's sales partner since 1988, and continued after the acquisition as a wholly owned subsidiary under the name Utimaco Safeware BV.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1998-02-13 |title=Bill Gates zum Verbot des Paketverkaufs |language=de |trans-title=Bill Gates on the ban of package sales |pages=43 |work=Computerwoche}}</ref> Until 1998, further subsidiaries were founded in Austria and Belgium,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1996-03-28 |title=Electronic Banking für Belgien |language=de |trans-title=Electronic Banking for Belgien |pages=21 |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung}}</ref> France, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Norway,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1997-09-01 |title=Die Utimaco-Aktie kommt an den Neuen Markt |language=de |trans-title=Utimaco share goes public on the Neuer Markt |pages=26 |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |url=https://fazarchiv.faz.net/faz-portal/document?uid=FAZ__F19970901UTIHLE1100 |access-date=2023-03-14}}</ref> as well as in Sweden and Finland,<ref name=":42">{{Cite news |date=1999-09-22 |title=Utimaco plant Ausbau des Auslandsgeschäfts |language=de |trans-title=Utimaco plans to expand its foreign business |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |url=https://fazarchiv.faz.net/faz-portal/document?uid=FAZ__FR119990922169323 |access-date=2023-03-14}}</ref> and the US company Mergent International was acquired.<ref name=":12">{{Cite news |last=Kamp |first=Matthias |date=1996-04-14 |title=Wie Missionare |language=de |trans-title=Like missionaries |pages=154 |work=WirtschaftsWoche |url=https://archiv.wiwo.de/document/WW__049611052/hitlist/0?all= |access-date=2023-03-14}}</ref> === IPO and acquisition through Sophos === Utimaco made its IPO in February 1999 as Utimaco Safeware AG at ''Neuer Markt'', a segment of Deutsche Börse.<ref name=":02" /> Later that year, Utimaco took over the operating business of Kryptokom GmbH in Aachen.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1999-07-24 |title=Utimaco kauft Kryptokom |language=de |trans-title=Utimaco purchases Kryptokom |pages=16 |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung}}</ref> In 2000, Utimaco introduced a card reader for online payments.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2000 |title=Geldkarte im Internet |language=de |trans-title=Cash card on the internet |pages=44 |work=c't}}</ref> In the same year, ACG and Utimaco founded the joint venture Omnikey AG.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2000-04-28 |title=Joint Venture von / ACG und Utimaco |language=de |trans-title=Joint Venture of / ACG and Utimaco |pages= |work=Frankfurter Neue Presse}}</ref> By 2000, the company's SafeGuard Easy software was used by companies and authorities like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Deutsche Post AG and the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, amongst others.<ref name=":2" /> In 2001, Utimaco entered a partnership with Precise Biometrics, a European company in the field of biometrics.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-02-23 |title=Smartcards mit Fingerabdruck kombiniert: Abgekartete Sachen |language=de |trans-title=Smartcards combined with fingerprint: Ticked off stuff |work=Computerwoche}}</ref> In 2002, the company was restructured. The business units Personal Device Security (PDS), Digital Transaction Security (DTS) and the system house for customer-specific security services — the core of former Kryptokom — were retained. The two business units Network Security and Security Modules were discontinued.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ihlenfeld |first=Jens |date=2002-01-31 |title=Utimaco stößt verlustbringende Geschäftsbereiche ab |trans-title=Utimaco sells off loss-making business units |url=https://www.golem.de/sonstiges/zustimmung/auswahl.html?from=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.golem.de%2F0201%2F18046.html |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=www.golem.de |publisher=Golem.de}}</ref> In 2008, Sophos announced to take over Utimaco through a voluntary public tender offering.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-07-29 |title=Sophos will deutsche Utimaco übernehmen |trans-title=Sophos wants to take over German Utimaco |url=https://archiv.handelsblatt.com/document/HB__070829397%7CHBPM__070829397/hitlist/0?all= |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=archiv.handelsblatt.com |publisher=Handelsblatt}}</ref> By 2009, Sophos had acquired 92% of Utimaco's shares and subsequently established a profit and loss transfer and domination agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-02-11 |title=Führungswechsel bei Utimaco |trans-title=Change of management at Utimaco |url=https://www.boersen-zeitung.de/unternehmen-branchen/fuehrungswechsel-bei-utimaco-4011fa3d-53c3-44d7-9410-c916a4b908a4 |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=Börsen-Zeitung |language=de}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> In 2012, Sophos conducted squeeze-out proceedings against the minority shareholders of Utimaco and delisted the company from the stock market.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-01-26 |title=Oberlandesgericht Frankfurt am Main: Beschluss vom 26.01.2015 21 W 26/13 |trans-title=Frankfurt am Main Higher Regional Court: Order dated January 26, 2015 21 W 26/13 |url=http://www.spruchverfahren-direkt.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Utimaco-Safeware-AG-2015-01-26-OLG-Frankfurt-aM-BGV.pdf |access-date=2022-09-07 |website=}}</ref> In the same year, the annual general meeting amended the Articles of Association and transferred the registered headquarters from Oberursel to Aachen.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2014-04-28 |title=Handelsregisterauszug von Utimaco Safeware AG aus Aachen (HRB 17938) |trans-title=Commercial register excerpt of Utimaco Safeware AG from Aachen (HRB 17938) |url=https://www.online-handelsregister.de/handelsregisterauszug/nw/Aachen/HRB/17938/Utimaco-Safeware-AG |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=Handelsregister}}</ref> === New owners and restructuring === In 2011, Utimaco faced allegations of supplying Lawful Interception Management Systems (LIMS) to repressive regimes such as Iran and Syria, raising ethical concerns when their products were used by Iranian authorities to detain and torture a university student.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/05/us-huawei-iran-idUSBRE8B409820121205/ | title = Special Report: Chinese firm helps Iran spy on citizens | author = Steve Stecklow | publisher = Reuters | date = December 5, 2012 | access-date = June 25, 2024 }}</ref>
Following the controversy, in 2013 Sophos sold Utimaco to management and financial investors Pinova Capital GmbH (Munich) and BIP Capital Partners (Luxembourg),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-18 |title=Utimaco erneut verkauft |trans-title=Utimaco sold again |url=https://www.boersen-zeitung.de/unternehmen-branchen/utimaco-erneut-verkauft-4d4ac2c7-edb9-4efa-a77b-f1ec9cb5cdce |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=Börsen-Zeitung |language=DE}}</ref> and since January 2017, the investment company EQT Partners has become an additional shareholder.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-11-15 |title=Utimaco schon wieder verkauft |trans-title=Utimaco yet another time sold again |url=https://www.boersen-zeitung.de/unternehmen-branchen/utimaco-schon-wieder-verkauft-fc401c79-112c-458a-b856-5e626fd3a584 |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=Börsen-Zeitung |language=DE}}</ref> In 2014, Utimaco Safeware AG was dissolved,<ref name=":5" /> and in 2016, Utimaco Management GmbH was founded.<ref name="Northdata: Business Information on Utimaco Management GmbH, Aachen"></ref> Two years later, Utimaco acquired the US company Atalla and its product lines from Micro Focus International.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-05-25 |title=Kurz notiert |language=de |trans-title=Quickly noted |pages=7 |work=Aachener Zeitung}}</ref> In February 2020, Utimaco announced the acquisition of Geobridge (Virginia, USA). In December 2020, Utimaco acquired UK-based MYHSM, a global provider of payment hardware security modules. In April 2021, Utimaco acquired exceet Secure Solutions GmbH, a provider of secure services for IT security and the Internet of Things (IoT).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiltscheck |first=Ronald |date=2021-05-04 |title=Akquisition eines weiteren Verschlüsselungsspezialisten |trans-title=Acquisition of another encryption specialist |url=https://www.channelpartner.de/a/utimaco-uebernimmt-exceet-secure-solutions,3339330 |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=ChannelPartner |language=de}}</ref> Furthermore, in May 2021, Utimaco acquired all shares in Realia Technologies, S.L. (Realsec), Madrid, Spain — a provider of hardware security modules — and the corresponding subsidiaries.<ref name="Annual Report 2020/21">Utimaco Management GmbH Konzernabschluss zum Geschäftsjahr vom 01.04.2020 bis zum 31.03.2021 [Utimaco Management GmbH Consolidated Financial Statements for the Fiscal Year from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021] (in German), published in Bundesanzeiger on 12 May 2022.</ref> In August 2021, Utimaco was acquired by SGT Capital<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johann |first=Bernd |date=2021 |title=Geplante Profitabilität |language=de |trans-title=Planned profitability |pages=37 |work=Focus Money |url=https://www.sgt-germanpe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Focus_Money_Geplante_Profitabilita%CC%88t.pdf}}</ref> and finalised in early May 2022, after receiving all necessary clearances. Soon after, Utimaco acquired Celltick, a provider of public-warning and mass notification systems.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-01 |title=SGT Capital completes the acquisition of Utimaco, a leading provider of Cybersecurity and Compliance Solutions |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sgt-capital-completes-acquisition-utimaco-165800809.html |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=Yahoo! Finance |language=en-US}}</ref> In April 2023, Utimaco acquired conpal GmbH, a provider of IT security systems for protection of private data and authentication.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-14 |title=Utimaco adquiere Conpal, especialista alemán en protección de datos |url=https://www.interempresas.net/TIC/Articulos/472726-Utimaco-adquiere-Conpal-especialista-aleman-en-proteccion-de-datos.html |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=Interempresas |language=es}}</ref>
== Corporate structure == Since 2022, SGT Capital is the majority shareholder of the group and is complemented by the minority stake of Utimaco management, employees and EQT; alongside Bain Capital Credit and Tyrus Capital, as well as other institutional investors including Capital Dynamics, Commonfund, Flandrin Capital, University of Wisconsin Foundation, and UBS Global Wealth Management.<ref name=":7" /> Utimaco Verwaltungs GmbH is the group's mother company, which holds liability for Utimaco Management GmbH.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-07 |title=Jahresabschluss zum Geschäftsjahr vom 01.04.2020 bis zum 31.03.2021: Utimaco Verwaltungs GmbH |language=de |trans-title=Annual financial statements for the financial year from 01.04.2020 to 31.03.2021: Utimaco Verwaltungs GmbH |work=Bundesanzeiger}}</ref> Utimaco Management GmbH is responsible for the operating business of the group, with all its subsidiaries.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-05-19 |title=§§ 264 Abs. 3, 264b HGB zum Geschäftsjahr vom 01.04.2020 bis zum 31.03.2021: Utimaco Management GmbH (Aachen) |language=de |trans-title=§§ Sections 264 (3), 264b HGB for the fiscal year from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021: Utimaco Management GmbH (Aachen) |work=Bundesanzeiger}}</ref> It is led by Stefan Auerbach (2019), Heino Erdmann (2025), Hacan Tiwemark (2022) and Cindy Provin (2024).<ref name="Northdata: Business Information on Utimaco Management GmbH, Aachen">{{cite web|url=https://www.northdata.de/Utimaco+Management+GmbH,+Aachen/HRB+21098|title=Firmenauskunft zu Utimaco Management GmbH, Aachen |language=de|trans-title=Business Information on Utimaco Management GmbH, Aachen|publisher=Northdata|access-date =8 September 2022}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+Revenue (in million EUR) !2017/18 !2018/19 !2019/20 !2020/21 !2021/22 |- |34.8 |44.4 |66.1 |83.2 |100.4 |} ''Source'': Bundesanzeiger, Unternehmensregister<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-02-19 |title=Konzernabschluss zum Geschäftsjahr vom 01.04.2018 bis zum 31.03.2019: Utimaco Management GmbH |language=de |trans-title=Consolidated financial statements for the financial year from 01.04.2018 to 31.03.2019: Utimaco Management GmbH |work=Bundesanzeiger}}</ref><ref name="Annual Report 2020/21" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-02-19 |title=Konzernabschluss zum Geschäftsjahr vom 01.04.2021 bis zum 31.03.2022: Utimaco Management GmbH |language=de |trans-title=Consolidated financial statements for the financial year from 01.04.2021 to 31.03.2022: Utimaco Management GmbH |work=Unternehmensregister}}</ref> == References == {{reflist}} == External links == * [https://www.utimaco.com Official website] Category:Companies based in Aachen