Argent Capital Buys Web Advertising System

Huntington Beach-based Argent Capital Corp. said Tuesday it has acquired an Internet advertising system from Optimize Inc. in Birmingham, Ala.

Argent, a financial services firm, said it would market the NetVoucher.com system nationally next month after completing tests, which began this month in Alabama. NetVoucher.com’s system attempts to generate sales to traditional retailers by giving Web users vouchers and coupons to local stores.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. It is unclear how many stores have signed up with the NetVoucher.com system or how the company plans to drive traffic to its site.

Argent has seen its stock skyrocket, going from 25 cents at the end of last year to $6.88 last week. It closed Tuesday at $5, down 13 cents.