Quest Moves into Fastlane

WASHINGTON (07/11/2000) - Quest Software Inc., a provider of software for managing business-critical applications, recently acquired FastLane Technologies Inc. in a move designed to offer government and industry a new choice in Windows 2000 deployment and management.

FastLane, a producer of directory management software for Microsoft Corp. platforms, has an impressive list of federal customers, including the U.S.

Navy, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Social Security Administration.

The acquisition enables Quest to offer enterprise deployments and ongoing management of Windows 2000. It immediately makes the Irvine, Calif.-based company a player in the Microsoft systems management market, said Vincent Smith, Quest chairman and chief executive officer.

"Government agencies and subcontractors will be deploying Windows 2000 and Active Directory over the next couple of years. [That's] a major but essential undertaking in order to prepare for Exchange 2000 - a business-critical messaging application," said Scott Harlin, public relations manager for Quest Software. "Exchange 2000 will not operate without a fully and properly deployed Windows 2000 and Active Directory implementation."

Under terms of the agreement, Quest will acquire privately held FastLane for a combination of cash and stock totaling about US$100 million. The deal should be complete by the end of this month or early August. FastLane, based in Ottawa, Ontario, will operate as a separate division of Quest once the purchase is completed.