Newsdesk - November 2001

EXFO acquires Avantas

EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering has entered into an agreement to acquire Avantas Networks for approximately US$65 million, or US$93 million for the equity minus US$28 million of Avantas cash on hand. Consideration paid consists of approximately 4.4 million EXFO shares and US$36 million in cast. Avantas is a supplier of leading edge fibre optic testing and optical network performance management equipment that supports a wide range of protocols and data transmission rates. "This strategic acquisition enables us to leverage our 16 year leadership in physical layer testing and address the new protocol layer testing requirements emerging with advanced DWDM networks," said Germain Lamonde, chairman, president and CEO of EXFO. "We will now be able to offer our customers a one-stop solution for all their fibre-optic testing needs."

• EXFO
  e162@industrialnetworking.co.uk