Activant Solutions Strengthens Ties In Electrical Market With Acquisition

Feb. 11, 2005
Activant Solutions, an Austin, Texas-provider of business software, plans to acquire Montreal-based Speedware Corp. The deal is expected to close by the end of March.

Activant Solutions, an Austin, Texas-provider of business software, plans to acquire Montreal-based Speedware Corp. The deal is expected to close by the end of March.

Activant isn’t a stranger in the electrical market. The company’s Livermore, Calif., group serves as the primary contract service provider for several business solutions produced by IDEA, Rosslyn, Va., including the IDX2 electronic network and industry data warehouse (IDW). Activant also hosts IDEA’s Industry Retail Database (IRD), a central repository of retail product and pricing data for manufacturers that sell directly to the retail hardware and consumer packaged goods chains.

Additionally, through its plan to purchase Speedware, the company would also have a business software package for electrical distributors. In one of its 2004 acquisitions of software vendors, Speedware purchased Prelude Systems, Addison, Texas, which had started to build a presence in the electrical market.

Activant also has interests in growing its existing business in the lumber and building materials market, the automotive aftermarket, wholesale-distribution, and hardware and home center retailing. By incorporating the Speedware product line, Activant bolsters its offerings in these segments. According to information on its company Web site, the company has supplied Ace Hardware with business software for over 20 years.

The acquisition of Speedware would expand Activant’s customer base, vertical industry coverage and technology suite. In addition, the anticipated acquisition would grow Activant’s installed base to over 20,000 customer locations.

Activant’s purchase includes Speedware’s operating divisions: Enterprise Computer Systems Inc., Prelude Systems Inc., OpenERP Solutions, and Speedware Ltd. Prelude’s Advanced Distribution System will expand Activant’s presence serving wholesale trade customers, and its OpenERP will introduce Activant to small and mid-size manufacturing customers, the company said.

“Activant is focused on growth and acquisitions to become the premier technology provider of vertical ERP software and solutions to select industries,’’ said Larry Jones, CEO of Activant Solutions. “The acquisition of Speedware is our first big step in this new direction and lays the foundation for revenue growth, technology innovation and increased thought leadership in key vertical segments.’’

“Activant’s deep vertical expertise, large installed customer base and solid technology are a natural fit with Speedware’s business,” said Andrew Gutman, CEO of Speedware Corp. “We believe the combined entity will give our customers additional world-class service and best-of-breed products for driving their business growth.”

Activant’s annual revenues top $200 million. The company has approximately 1,300 employees in Austin, Livermore, Denver and internationally in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France.