Redgate has made an investment in a Croatian software company, in a move which its CEO says is recognition of the talent pool in Eastern Europe.

The Cambridge Business Park company, which makes tools for developers using Microsoft SQL Server, has put an undisclosed sum into SysKit, a monitoring and administration software company, through its sister company, Redgate Investment, which was created to make sizeable minority investments in founder-led businesses, without the onerous terms and conditions often required by private equity and venture capitalists.

SysKitwas founded in Zagreb eight years ago, and creates solutions for the SharePoint, Office 365 and Citrix environments and, with a team of more than 40 people, has over 3,000 public sector and corporate customers across the globe.

The investment, which has been made with the option for a further investment round in two years, will enable SysKit to advance its plans and concentrate its efforts on developing tools for the SharePoint market. It will also be able to call on the sales and marketing expertise of Redgate Software so that it can reach more customers in a more effective way.

“I’m really excited about SysKit’s ability to grow from where it is now,” said Simon Galbraith, CEO of Redgate Software and Redgate Investments. “There is a big, global market they haven’t yet fully reached, and I look forward to seeing them become the most successful Croatian software product company. I’m delighted by the quality of talent available in Croatia and I’m looking forward to working with SysKit, and seeing the company go to the next level.”

Toni Frankola, CEO and co-founder of SysKit, added: “This was a great move for us because it’s given us much more than a normal VC deal would have done. Alongside the financial investment, having Redgate alongside us brings their knowledge and skills to the table. They’ve already been on the same journey and they can share best practice and help us to become strategically stronger.”

In a connected development, Redgate has also acquired SQL Manager, a data discovery and classification tool, from SysKit to enhance its own line-up of SQL Server tools.