FutureLink to Buy Charon, Expand to Canada

FutureLink Corp., which helps run Internet sites for businesses from remote locations, agreed to buy closely held Charon Systems Inc. for $31.4 million to expand into Canada. Irvine-based FutureLink would pay 1.073 million of its shares, or $24.4 million, and $6.95 million in cash for Toronto-based Charon, which resells software made by Citrix Systems Inc. that lets different computer systems work together. Earlier in the week, FutureLink said it will buy Madison Technology Group, a New York-based Citrix software distributor, for $57.5 million. FutureLink shares rose $3.50 to close at $22.75 on Nasdaq.