Merlion Shipping Ltd

What Merlion Shipping Ltd does

MERLION is a privately-held Russian IT distribution group operating for more than 30 years since its 1993 founding, headquartered in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast, with six offices across Russia and no disclosed international operations. The legal entities include ООО «МЕРЛИОНТЕХ» (MERLIONTECH LLC) and ООО «Мерлион» (Merlion LLC), with the group organized into four business directions: broad-profile and project IT distribution, IT services (technical center and demo stands), retail and e-commerce (Citilink, Positronica, Cactus), and production/own brands (Buro). The company operates as a Value-Added Distributor (VAD) connecting 150+ software vendors and 100+ IT equipment brands with B2B channel partners including resellers, system integrators, and VARs across Russia.

The group's core technology includes a B2B ordering portal with API and EDI integrations, a Technical Center with 350+ Russian software demonstrations, 380+ demo samples, 60+ Russian software demo stands, 25+ pilot projects, 400+ vendor technical certifications, and 90+ IT engineers. Merlion Academy provides partner training and certification across vendor technologies (Kaspersky, MyOffice, R7-Office, Astra Linux, ISPsystem, Huawei, RED Software, CommuniGate, Skalar), supported by 300+ annual events. Merlion has positioned itself as a key channel for Russian import substitution, distributing certified domestic alternatives including the Alt OS family (Basealt SPO), SpaceVM and Space VDI (Space/ДАКОМ М), Arenadata big data platform, AlterOS and AlterOffice (ALMI Partner), Gorizont-VS virtualization (FSTEC-certified, used by Ministry of Health, Transneft, and Russian Railways), Angie Software's Russian web server, Loudplay remote desktop protocol, and МКСЗ Diamond Next unified security (ТСС, FSTEC/FSB-certified).

Merlion monetizes primarily through transaction-based distribution margins on IT product sales to channel partners, supplemented by project-based VAD services with technical pre-sales support and by training and certification revenue through Merlion Academy. Pricing is negotiated via the B2B portal under quote-based, transaction-driven terms; no public pricing is disclosed. Named end-customer references include Russian banks (VTB, AK Bars, DOM.RF, Bank SPB, PSB), federal ministries and agencies (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Construction, Federal Customs Service, Federal Tax Service, Federal Treasury, Accounts Chamber), and state-owned enterprises (Transneft, Russian Railways). The primary customer segment is Russian IT channel partners; secondary segments are regulated enterprises and government entities seeking certified Russian IT infrastructure.

Name

Merlion Shipping Ltd

Legal name

Общество с ограниченной ответственностью «МЕРЛИОНТЕХ» (Limited Liability Company "MERLIONTECH")

Website

https://merlion.ru

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

MERLION is a privately-held Russian IT distribution group with 30+ years of operations, distributing 150+ software vendors' products and 100+ equipment brands to channel partners across Russia, with technical centers, training academy, and import substitution positioning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Varna

HQ country

Bulgaria

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. IT Product Distribution: Distribution of IT software and equipment from multiple vendors to channel partners, generating revenue through margin on product sales
2. Project IT Distribution: Project-based distribution of IT solutions including implementation support and technical services
3. Training and Certification Services: Merlion Academy provides educational programs, webinars, and certification for partners on vendor technologies

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MERLION distributes IT software and equipment from 150+ software vendors and 100+ equipment brands to Russian channel partners (resellers, VARs, system integrators) and enterprise customers through a B2B portal with API/EDI integration. The company also offers value-added distribution including technical demonstration labs, pilot projects, compatibility testing, partner training through Merlion Academy, and warranty services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Merlion Academy: Center for developing partner competencies, providing expert knowledge on technologies and products, and offering individual approach to business needs.

Products and services

• B2B Partner Portal Online procurement platform for channel partners offering the ability to purchase goods via the internet and optimize logistics and financial resources through automated ordering and inventory access. For B2B IT resellers, VARs, and system integrators in Russia.
• API Services Partner-facing API providing direct access to warehouse availability data and enabling automation of orders and shipments for B2B integration. For channel partners integrating their procurement systems with MERLION.
• EDI Integration Unified technology for order placement and processing that simplifies and standardizes electronic data interchange between MERLION and partners. For channel partners and enterprise customers.
• Merlion Academy Partner competency development center providing expert training and certification on technologies and products from vendor partners, including webinars, distance learning courses, events, and partner seminars. For IT channel partners and resellers.
• Technical Center Demonstration Solutions Technical demonstration laboratory offering 350+ Russian software demonstrations, 380+ demo samples, 60+ demo stands, and 25+ pilot projects with 90+ IT engineers for partner pre-sales validation and compatibility testing. For IT channel partners and enterprise customers planning complex deployments.
• Project IT Distribution (VAD) Project-based distribution of IT solutions for complex enterprise deployments including implementation support and value-added technical services across server, storage, networking, virtualization, security, and software categories. For large enterprise and government customers undertaking IT infrastructure projects.
• Broad-Profile IT Distribution Wide-line IT distribution covering 150+ software vendors and 100+ IT equipment brands across product categories including hardware, software, components, peripherals, and consumables. For IT resellers, retailers, and corporate buyers across Russia.
• Warranty Services Product warranty support services for distributed IT products, providing post-sale protection and service handling for channel partners and end customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ years of market presence in Russian IT distribution
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Angie SoftwarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMERLION signed a distribution agreement with Angie Software, developer of the first Russian web server. Partnership involves distribution of Angie PRO web server and Angine ADC load balancer (in active FSTEC certification stage) to channel partners.
• ТСС (Security Technology Systems)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMERLION signed distribution agreement with ТСС, Russian developer of information security software and hardware. Partnership includes distribution of МКСЗ Diamond Next unified security solution certified by FSTEC and FSB Russia.
• Базальт СПО (Basealt SPO)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partnership for Russian Alt operating systems including Alt Workstation, Alt Server, Alt Virtualization, Simply Linux. Products certified by FSTEC and registered in Russian software registry.
• ArenadatacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution of Arenadata Enterprise Data Platform including ADB, ADH, ADPG, ADQM, and ADS products for big data storage and processing based on open-source technologies.
• Space (ДАКОМ М)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution of SpaceVM virtualization platform and Space VDI virtual desktop solution. Products registered in Russian software registry as full replacement for VMware.
• АЛМИ Партнер (ALMI Partner)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution of AlterOS operating system and AlterOffice office suite. Products certified by FSTEC and registered in Russian software registry. Joint demo environment established at Merlion technical center.
• LoudplayminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution of Loudplay proprietary remote desktop access protocol for VDI and terminal services. Russian solution registered in software registry.
• Горизонт-ВС (ООО Пангео Горизонт)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution of certified virtualization platform Gorizont-VS. Solution certified by FSTEC and registered in Russian software registry, used by Ministry of Health, Ministry of Construction, Transneft, and Russian Railways.
• KasperskycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as partner in Merlion Academy speaker and training ecosystem.
• MyOfficecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as partner in Merlion Academy training ecosystem.
• Р7-Офис (R7-Office)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as partner in Merlion Academy speaker ecosystem.
• Астра Линукс (Astra Linux)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as partner in Merlion Academy training ecosystem with dedicated virtualization demo environment.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Customer concentration

• Xvk.com/merlion

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Merlion Shipping Ltd