Lindon software company sold to California firm for $56 million

Vintela Inc., a Lindon-based software company that began as a spinoff of the infrastructure technology arm of Caldera Systems (which eventually became SCO, now embroiled into a bitter battle with Microsoft,) is in the process of being acquired by Quest Software Inc. a provider of application, database and Windows management solutions.

Quest, based in Irvine, Calif., will pay $56 million in cash for the outstanding shares of Vintela, and outstanding options to purchase Vintela shares will be assumed by Quest and become options to purchase approximately 1.5 million shares of Quest common stock.

"Vintela's software has a very good synergy with our Windows management software and they also have a very strong relationship with Microsoft, just like we do," said Quest spokeswoman Erin Jones.

Started in Septemeber 2003 by Dave Wilson, Vintela's goal has been to integrate Linux, Unix. Java and other platforms with Windows, and manage them all through Microsoft management platforms and tools such as Mircosoft's Active Directory. The company developed its first product to accomplish that goal with Vintela Integration Architecture in 2003. This technology strategy allows users to leverage their existing investment in Microsoft products and technologies by adding the ability to integrate and manage Unix, Linux, Java, and Mac environments through Microsoft systems and interfaces. It delivers a single point of administration without requiring duplicate tools and repetitive tasks.

The Vintela acquisition adds a key component to Quest's longterm strategy to embrace and extend Microsoft Active Directory by enabling organizations with Unix, Linux, Mac and Java systems to benefit from Active Directory throughout their heterogeneous enterprises.

"The Vintela acquisition is a cornerstone in Quest's overall strategy for Windows-centric platform integration and identity management," said Vinny Smith, chairman and CEO, Quest Software. "For many years we have believed that Microsoft Active Directory would become a strategic enterprise directory. This is a trend Quest predicted when we began to invest in management solutions for Windows five years ago."

The Vintela acquisition will help enable Quest, - the industry's No. 1 Windows Server management software, vendor and Microsoft's Independent Software Vendor of the Year - to deliver cross-platform user provisioning, password management and end-user self-management.

"Quest and Vintela share a common vision for enabling business users of Unix, Linux, Mac and Java systems to interoperate with Windows-based systems," Wilson said. "Together, we will be delivering key components of an enterprise platform integration and identity management solutions that customers may implement today."

The acquisition is expected to close by the end of June or July. At that time, The Vintela will take on the Quest name, but its Lindon facility, located at 333 S. 520 W., will be retained along with current employees.

Copyright Enterprise Business Newspaper Inc. Jun 06, 2005
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