Aliso Viejo’s Quest Software Inc. said Thursday it acquired a New Zealand software maker for $15 million now and up to $30 million more during the next three years.
Wellington-based AfterMail Ltd. makes software to help businesses archive e-mail. Quest makes programs that improve the speed and user-friendliness of databases from Microsoft Corp. and Oracle Corp. as well as e-mail software.
Shares of privately held AfterMail were acquired for $14.7 million, according to Quest.
The company plans to pay an extra $30 million through 2009 if performance goals are met.
Quest said it plans to keep AfterMail’s product developers in Wellington. The company also said it plans to up its “sales focus” Down Under with a sales office in New Zealand.
The company has gone after acquisitions as a way to hold its own against software’s big players.
Last year, Quest spent $130 million buying three companies. Chief Executive Vincent “Vinny” Smith has headed up the buying.
“It’s fun to go and spend $100 million a year,” he said in an earlier interview. “I enjoy chasing the little companies.”
Brian Womack contributed to this story
