American-owned ID cards business makes handheld device acquisition
The American owners of Stockport based Digital ID have acquired networking business Connected ID, which has bases in Corsham near Bath and Leicester.
Levata isn’t saying how much it paid for the Connected ID, which it describes as “a leader in Networking and Enterprise Mobility solutions”, but says the deal was a “major milestone” that will “supercharge” Digital ID’s innovative solutions offer across Europe.
“Connected ID has an outstanding reputation, backed by a highly skilled team and loyal client base,” said Stephen Dodd, Commercial Director of Digital ID Europe. “This acquisition is a major milestone for us. By combining our expertise, we can deliver an unparalleled suite of Identity, AIDC and Networking solutions, ensuring businesses operate more securely and efficiently.”
Connected ID are specialists in wireless network and mobility technology such as mobile computers, barcode scanners, label printers and Electronic Point of Sale devices.
Like many sectors it is consolidating, and specialist ID security and access businesses are looking for a global partner that can help identify people and products, faster, smarter, and more securely than ever before, according to a source familiar with the sector.
Daniel Nettesheim, CEO of Levata, emphasised the strategic importance of the acquisition: “Bringing Connected ID into the Levata family rapidly expands our capabilities in the U.K. and Europe. This is another example of Levata continuing to invest in our networking, network security, data capture, and enterprise mobility capabilities, ensuring we provide world-class solutions for our customers.”
Jamie Dickinson, Managing Director of Connected ID, echoed the enthusiasm: “From the start, it was clear that Digital ID and Connected ID share a commitment to innovation and customer success. This acquisition strengthens our solutions, expands our market presence, and enhances the overall customer experience. I’m excited to be part of this next chapter and look forward to driving new growth and opportunities together.”
The acquisition boosts Digital ID’s headcount to about 200 employees across five key locations in the UK and Europe, with plans to create 10 new roles in sales, marketing, and support at the company’s Stockport headquarters in the coming year.
Formed in 1990, Digital ID makes the technology behind Photo ID cards for businesses and government organisations. In its last set of accounts the business revealed that it made pre-tax profits of £5.72m on turnover of £38.7m. In 2018, the company was acquired by Barcodes Inc, now known as Levata to help deliver market-leading solutions globally. In March 2023 the business acquired Identbase in Germany which was intended to reduce the risk of lost business due to Brexit.
The deal to acquire Connected ID was managed internally by Levata’s M&A team.
