SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY : MAI Basic Four Presses Acquisitions With 2 More German Software Firms

MAI Basic Four, continuing its shopping spree of the past several months, has acquired two West German software companies. The Tustin-based computer equipment and services company said the two firms, Weis EDV-Beratung and Lehnert U. Fischer-Quintus Vertriebs, will be operated as wholly owned subsidiaries.

The purchase prices were not disclosed.

Several weeks ago, MAI Basic Four announced plans to reacquire two operations from Bell Atlantic Corp. for $148 million. The units are MAI Canada Ltd. and the MAI Basic Four computer maintenance business of Sorbus Inc.

In the last two months, MAI also acquired a Danish computer maintenance company and three other German software companies.

“The acquisition of foreign software developers is a part of our corporate strategy to accelerate MAI’s presence in the European marketplace,” said William B. Patton Jr., MAI’s president and chief executive.

Weis Edv specializes in application software for the meat and fish-processing industry, while Lehnert U. Fischer markets software for the wholesale beverage industry.