Glazier boosts Advantage's strength

By Mark Reynolds

Advantage Group has expanded its evolving e-commerce empire with the purchase of internet site development company Glazier Systems.

Advantage will pay $7.1 million for Glazier, with half of the settlement to be paid in cash and the remainder to be paid for by a placement of Advantage shares at $2.50 each. That placement price is based on the company's average share price over the 10 business days before the announcement, and compares with a closing price yesterday of $2.55 each.

Glazier has 54 staff developing internet business software for customers including Telecom, NZ Post, Lion Nathan and Ernst & Young.

Advantage chairman Evan Christian said the acquisition added significant development capability to his company.

Glazier writes computer programmes that essentially provide the shop window for companies who want to do business on the internet. Its operations will compliment Advantage's existing backroom software expertise, which includes a team of programmers who write software that allows businesses and consumers to transfer cash via the web.

Advantage chief executive Greg Cross said the two operations fit extremely well together and will allow Advantage to develop a full e-commerce package for customers. Glazier also has business consulting strength that Advantage wants to build on.

One of the strengths Glazier has is in the development of Microsoft-based business applications and Advantage also announced yesterday that it had entered into an agreement with Microsoft to develop electronic transaction business.

Mr Cross said the agreement with Microsoft was a significant sign of Advantage's commitment to the e-commerce area. Advantage was until last year mainly a supplier of Eftpos hardware, but it has expanded that business into software development for electronic transactions. The company has also acquired electronic bar coding and scanning operations.