EYT Acquires Signature Systems, Bolsters Microsoft Great Plains Practice

EYT Microsoft Signature Systems

Specific terms of the cash and stock deal were not disclosed, according to an EYT spokesperson. Signature Systems, based in Rockville, Md., is a certified Microsoft Great Plains provider for mid-market companies, trade associations and government sectors.

Barry Culman, COO of EYT, said in a released statement the acquisition "takes EYT's Microsoft Great Plains practice to a new level."

As part of the deal, EYT will acquire about 20 employees, who will work out of existing EYT headquarters in Chantilly, Va., according to a spokesperson. No office locations were acquired as part of the deal, and no additional details were provided.

In related news, Microsoft earlier this month closed a $1.45 billion deal to acquire Navision, a Danish maker of ERP and manufacturing software for the midmarket. Through that acquisition, along with the April 2001 buyout of Great Plains, the company is building a slate of enterprise applications for midmarket companies.

Later this year, Microsoft's Great Plains group plans to debut MS-CRM, an offering developed on and for .Net. EYT's acquisition of Signature Systems strengthens its strategy to provide midmarket services for Microsoft Great Plains Business solutions, including implementation and customized software development and application management, according to the company.

Barbara Darrow contributed to this report.