Irvine’s Quest Software to Add FastLane Technologies as Unit

Quest Software Inc., a maker of database software, said Thursday it agreed to buy FastLane Technologies for about $100 million in cash and stock to become a leading vendor for Microsoft Corp.’s systems-management software.

Closely held FastLane, based in Canada, sells directory-management software for Microsoft products, including Windows 2000. Irvine-based Quest helps companies manage and monitor information from large databases, with strengths in Oracle Corp. applications.

The acquisition allows Quest to help customers who upgrade to Windows 2000 and Active Directory. Microsoft’s introduction of those two products is its largest upgrade and companies will need to ensure that their businesses can run on Microsoft systems, Quest said. Quest had 1999 sales of about $71 million.

FastLane will become a unit of Quest, and FastLane’s Jan Kaminski will stay on as president. Quest expects to complete the purchase in late July or early August.

Quest’s stock was unchanged Thursday at $53.13 in Nasdaq trading.