5, November 2024
Abion Expands Norwegian Presence with Acquisition of Leading Domain Service Provider, Softgarden
Gothenburg, Sweden | Oslo, Norway – 5th November 2024
Abion, a European leader in Intellectual Property (IP) services, announces the acquisition of Softgarden, a Norway-based IP service provider. The acquisition strengthens Abion's presence in Norway and creates a comprehensive IP offering, by adding domain expertise to an already strong trademark and IP offering in this market.
Since its inception in 1994, Abion has built a reputation for excellence in domain name, IP management, online brand protection, and web security. The addition of Softgarden brings further depth to Abion’s portfolio by reinforcing its domain name management offering and expertise.
Strategic Expansion of Norwegian Operations
This acquisition represents a significant step forward in Abion’s commitment to building out its full-service offering in Norway. Established in 2012, Softgarden is well-known for its expertise in domain and IP management, boasting an impressive client list.
“Softgarden is a valuable addition to Abion, not only for their domain expertise but also for their outstanding market reputation. This acquisition enhances our service offering and allows us to be closer to our clients in the local markets, providing them with tailored insights while upholding the high standards of Abion’s global solutions," said Magdalena Bonde, CEO of Abion.
Complementary Expertise Strengthens Offering
Bringing in a market-leading domain provider like Softgarden complements Abion’s already well-established Norwegian trademark and IP business. In just two years since opening its office in 2022, Abion Norway ranks in the top three for trademark filings. By combining these two areas of expertise under one roof, Abion becomes one of the most comprehensive IP service provider in Norway, offering trademark management, domain management, online brand protection, and web security services to serve clients’ full IP needs.
“With a 10% market share of Norwegian trademark filings handled by Abion Norway, we've built a strong IP legal reputation in a short time earning the trust of major Norwegian and international brands. Softgarden’s experience and customer-centric philosophy perfectly complements our existing services, and together, we'll reinforce our market position and provide full-service, tech-enabled IP solutions to meet the growing needs of our customers." noted Christoffer Vedal, Abion’s Country Manager Norway and Partner.
Mutual Benefits and Shared Vision
For Softgarden, joining Abion represents an opportunity to scale its operations while maintaining the high level of service it is known for. By integrating with Abion’s advanced platform, Softgarden will have the tools and resources needed to enhance its offerings and benefit from Abion’s in-house expertise in web security, IP legal services, and online brand protection. Additionally, this partnership enables Softgarden to leverage Abion's broader geographical footprint, improving its ability to meet customer demands beyond Norway.
“Joining Abion is a natural progression for us. We've always prided ourselves on our customer-focused approach, steering clear of the typical online self-service model. With Abion’s extensive expertise, technology, and reach, we can offer our clients next-level services covering all aspects of IP management and protection. We're excited to contribute to a company that's pushing the boundaries in what is often a very traditional industry," shared Kjetil Heggenhougen, CEO, Founder, and owner of Softgarden.
Rebranding in Early 2025
As part of the integration process, Softgarden will rebrand to Abion in early 2025.
Abion was advised by EY Corporate Finance (financial advisor), Schjødt (legal advisor) and EY (financial and tax). The purchase price remains undisclosed.
For more information about Abion's services in Norway or to enquire about cooperation opportunities, please contact Christoffer Vedal directly at christoffer.vedal@abion.com.
Mentions in media
This news has caught the attention of the industry media. Read more:
- Managing IP - read the full article here.
- Finansavisen (One of Norway's leading business newspapers) - read the full article here.
- WTR Review - read full article here.
For press-enquiries, please contact: Emil Björnum, CMO at Abion, emil.bjornum@abion.com +46 31 720 20 00
About Abion
Abion is a pioneering force in the IP industry, with 30 years of expertise as an ICANN-accredited registrar and ISO27001-certified supplier. Abion provides a comprehensive suite of services across Legal Services, Domain Management, Trademark Management, Online Brand Protection and Web Security, helping businesses protect and manage their Intellectual Property assets.
At the heart of Abion's offering is the Abion Core platform, a cloud-based brand management solution that combines advanced technology with intuitive user experience. This centralised platform streamlines the management and protection of brands, offering an optimal overview and automated control of domains, brand assets, and web security products.
Headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, Abion has a presence throughout Europe and the Middle East.
Read more about Abion.
About Softgarden
Softgarden is a Norwegian-based intellectual property service provider founded in 2012. Through partnerships with a global network, Softgarden provides a wide range of IP management services, including domain name registration and management, trademark registrations, patent registrations, digital brand surveillance, legal services, and web hosting to clients in Norway and beyond. With a reputation for reliability and customer service, Softgarden has become a trusted name in the domain management industry.
Read more about Softgarden.
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