Aliso Viejo’s Quest Software Inc., a maker of business software, said Friday it bought Phoenix-based NetPro Computing Inc. for $78 million in cash.
NetPro makes software that helps optimize Microsoft Corp.’s suite of programs geared toward managing technology at big corporations.
It targets schools, government agencies and financial institutions as customers.
The buy is set to boost Quest’s Microsoft offerings, one of the fastest-growing parts of its business.
“Companies want products that help them get more performance and productivity from their Windows infrastructure,” said Chief Executive Vinny Smith.
A few NetPro executives plan to to join Quest as the two companies consolidate operations. It has some 175 workers.
Quest, which had a recent market value of about $1.5 billion, is set to combine the two companies’ development, sales, marketing and services teams.
