Omega Research Acquires Window On WallStreet
BusinessWire, Tuesday, October 26, 1999 at 07:26
MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 1999--
Acquisition of a Leading Internet-Based Provider of Streaming Real-Time Quotes Will Accelerate Roll Out of Omega Research Internet Strategy
Omega Research, Inc. (NASDAQ:OMGA), a leading provider of real-time investment analysis software, today announced that it has acquired privately held Window On WallStreet Inc., a leading Internet-based provider of streaming real-time and historical quotes and a developer of award-winning, on-line investment analysis tools. Omega Research has exchanged 2 million newly issued shares of its common stock for all of the issued and outstanding shares of Window On WallStreet. Omega Research will also repay in accordance with its terms approximately $4.1 million of outstanding Window On WallStreet indebtedness. The merger, which will be accounted for as a pooling of interests, will leave Window On WallStreet's shareholders with approximately 8 percent of the issued and outstanding common stock of Omega Research. Bill Cruz, co-chairman of the board and co-chief executive officer of Omega Research, commented, "We believe this merger will sharply accelerate the roll out of our Internet strategy and ignite an exciting period of aggressive growth for Omega Research. Acquiring the Financial Data Cast Network(TM), one of the Internet's most sophisticated streaming real-time quote services, along with a host of powerful, award-winning investment analysis tools, including Internet Trader (formerly Window On WallStreet) and Day Trader, is expected to greatly enhance Omega Research's competitive position in the marketplace. "We believe this merger combines the industry's two finest front-end analytical tools with the industry's best Internet-based streaming real-time data service and will allow us, for the first time, to offer customers a complete seamless solution. While we will begin immediately to integrate our newly expanded array of products and technology to seek to take advantage of the tremendous growth potential offered by the Internet, we also remain committed to supporting Window On WallStreet's large installed base of loyal users. By leveraging our brands and integrating the best features and functions of both product lines, we expect to significantly increase the value proposition for our combined customer base."
November Conference Call
As previously disclosed, Omega Research has scheduled a conference call for November 8, 1999, to discuss the company's rapidly evolving Internet strategy and its prospects to significantly expand the company's customer base in the years ahead. Further details on the timing of the conference call will be distributed prior to the call. Keith Black, president of Window on WallStreet, said, "In addition to creating some of the Internet's most powerful Internet-based analytical tools over the last two years, we have developed a state-of-the-art solution for delivering streaming real-time quotes via the Internet. We believe that combining our two businesses in a way that broadens the market for both companies will enable us to leverage Window On WallStreet's investment in technology far more quickly and efficiently than we could on a stand-alone basis." Omega Research has acquired valuable Internet technology and an experienced team of professionals. Among the highlights of the acquisition:
Financial Data Cast Network (FDCN)
A sophisticated Internet-based subscription service that delivers streaming real-time quotes, and historical intraday and daily price data for charts on demand. FDCN includes Nasdaq Level II bid and ask quotes, fundamental financial information, and real-time streaming news. This technology is anticipated to allow Omega Research to offer customers a fully integrated solution using streaming real-time data to drive the company's powerful analytical tools.
Award Winning Internet Analysis Tools
Over the last five years, Window On WallStreet has received more editorial and industry awards for its product line than any other provider in its category. In 1997, the company was awarded the prestigious Codie Award from the Software and Information Industry Association. The company's products were Codie Award finalists in 1999, and have won five first-place awards from highly recognized organizations since 1994. These awards include:
- 1997 Software Publishing Association Codie Award for Best New Business Software Program of the Year
- Home PC Editors' Choice Top 100 Software for 1997
- PC Magazine Editors' Choice Award for Personal Investment Software (1996)
- American Association of Individual Investors rated a perfect score for Technical Analysis Software (1996)
- PC Magazine Editors' Choice Award for Personal Investment Software (1995)
Talented Team
In addition to a solid and innovative staff, Window On WallStreet adds a number of talented developers and marketing executives to the strong team at Omega Research. As a unit of Omega Research, Window On WallStreet will continue to operate from its offices in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, enhancing the company's ability to recruit from one of the nation's premier technology centers.
About Window On WallStreet
Window On WallStreet is an Internet financial solutions provider. The company provides solutions to online traders, active investors and investment professionals over the Internet. Since its founding in 1991, the company has designed and developed best-in-class investment and trading analysis software. With more than 100,000 full versions of its software shipped (and over 1 million with its OEM agreements), the company is highly experience in serving the mass market. For more information, visit www.windowonwallstreet.com.
About Omega Research Founded in 1982, and headquartered in Miami, Florida, Omega Research, Inc. is a leading provider of real-time investment analysis software for the Windows operating system. With the 1991 release of its flagship product, TradeStation(R), the Company pioneered the concept of utilizing the power of the personal computer to enable investors to historically test the profitability of their own investment strategies and then computer-automate those strategies to generate real-time buy and sell signals. Omega Research's other principal products are OptionStation(R), RadarScreen(TM), Omega Research ProSuite(TM) and SuperCharts(R). The current shipping versions of such products are TradeStation 2000i, OptionStation 2000i, RadarScreen 2000i, Omega Research ProSuite 2000i and SuperCharts 4. For more information, visit www.omegaresearch.com. Omega Research's 2000i line of software products is compatible with the following real-time Internet and broadcast data services: Data Broadcasting Corporation's (NASDAQ:DBCC) eSignal (Internet), InSite (Internet) and BMI (Broadcast); Data Transmission Network Corporation's (NASDAQ:DTLN) DTN Real Time and DTNstant (Broadcast); Hyperfeed Technologies, Inc.'s (formerly PC Quote, Inc.) (NASDAQ:HYPR) Hyperfeed(TM) (Internet and Broadcast), and FutureSource Information Systems, Inc.'s MDS network and stand-alone datafeeds. The products also enable the user to access through the Internet, with a click of the mouse, the online brokerage services of E-TRADE (NASDAQ:EGRP) and Wall Street Access.
This press release contains statements that are forward looking and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "believes," "estimates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "may," "should," "prospect," "looking forward," "could," "seeks," and similar expressions as they relate to Omega Research or its management are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The statements in this press release regarding the expectations and beliefs of Omega Research management concerning, among other matters, the merger, Window On WallStreet, the Internet and future product developments holding significant promise for expanding the Omega Research's customer base in the years ahead are based on current expectations and beliefs concerning future events that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results suggested herein and from the results historically experienced. Factors that may cause or contribute to such differences and impact future events include, but are not limited to, difficulty integrating the Window On WallStreet acquisition from both technology and operational aspects, the ability and success of Omega Research in developing and marketing Window On WallStreet's line of products and services and the cost thereof, the impact of the merger on Omega Research's existing relationships, lower-than-expected new product orders over future quarters, failure of customer acceptance of new products, including new Internet products (due to technical difficulties or errors in the products, their cost, increased hardware or software requirements to use the products, unfavorable critical reviews, increased competition, or other reasons), the level of returns and bad debt, the timeliness and success of the Company's marketing of upgrades to its customer base, timing and significance of additional new product introductions by the Company and its competitors, the level of product and price competition, changes in the Company's sales incentive or marketing strategies, changes in demand for the Company's products, changes in operating expenses, the ability of the Company to successfully develop, effectuate and market its internet strategy, attempts by the Company to enter new markets (including the Internet product market) or expand into related businesses and the cost, timing and success thereof, general economic and market factors, including changes in the securities and financial markets, as well as those discussed in Omega Research's press releases and its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, but not limited to, Omega Research's December 31, 1998 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Visit the Omega Research web site at www.omegaresearch.com |