SYMANTEC TAKING OVER MAKER OF WINFAX
By Adnews Staff
California-based Symantec Corp. is taking over Toronto-based Delrina Corporation. Analysts say the merger of software makers is designed to make both companies more competitive with Windows 95, the personal computer operating system scheduled to be brought to market next month by Seattle-based Microsoft Corporation. Symantec announced last week it will take over Delrina in a $415-million(US) deal which will see Delrina shareholders receive Symantec stock. Seven-year-old Delrina is best known for WinFax, the world's most popular fax modem software for personal computers, but it also produces electronic forms. Symantec's most popular product is Norton Utilities, a kind of electronic tool kit for keeping computers running in good order and configuring PCs to make them more user friendly. The company also has a contact management program called ACT and remote access software called pcAnywhere. Windows 95 is said to include fax and communications functions that would make it a rival to Symantec and Delrina. Symantec can add critical mass to Delrina's technological wizardry to produce products that are more technologically advanced than Microsoft's. The deal is subject to regulatory approval. Delrina's four founders will continue to work for the company which will operate out of Toronto as a division of Symantec. Access Advertising Management does advertising in Canada for Symantec, while The Communications Group does public relations. Delrina handles its advertising in-house, and also uses a number of agencies which it declines to name.