BEI increases European grip for Metastorm

US developer of Web-based business software Metastorm has expanded its UK presence with the purchase of European network systems integrator Barratt Edwards International (BEI).

Metastorm has merged its UK operation with Novell development partner BEI in London, which means it now has offices in nine countries, about 120 employees and a combined turnover of #8 million. The BEI purchase comes after Metastorm's acquisition of software developer Sysgenics, creator of e-work, last April.

The deal will help push the developer's Novell software into Europe, alongside e-work. John Summers, managing director of BEI, has become director of operations for UK, Europe and Canada for BEI Metastorm.

Commenting on the merger, Summers said: 'The links both companies have with Novell were critical. BEI made the choice six years ago to go with Novell only and the fact that Metastorm develops software for Novell made it an attractive offer.'

He added: 'When you're working in services without your own products, you can end up with zero profitability because of the licensing fees that are paid out. It's a very different situation when you have product ownership, which we now have with Novell InForms.'

Summers will be in charge of the 38 staff at BEI and the 16 former employees of Sysgenics. There are also plans to bring in another 22 staff during the course of the year.