W. R. Grace Buys the Remainder of Soft-Kat

Soft-Kat, a computer software distributor based in Van Nuys, reported last week that W. R. Grace exercised an option to buy the 61% of the company that Grace does not already own.

Grace, a New York-based conglomerate, obtained the option in 1985 when it paid $4.2 million to buy a 39% stake in the privately held company.

Soft-Kat specializes in distributing educational software. Founded in 1983, it has $35 million in annual sales and employs 100 people.

Soft-Kat said President Alan Gleicher and Chief Executive Modie Katz will continue working for the company. Katz’s brother, Ozzie, a co-founder and former executive vice president of the company, has left to start a boat-rental business in Florida.