US firms acquire two Ottawa software star-ups

Two small Ottawa-based software firms have been acquired by US companies. Privately held Nimcat Networks was purchased by Avaya Inc, Basking Ride NJ, for $46 million. Nimcat develops voice-over-Internet protocol (IP) software embedded within enterprise IP phones, allowing customers to add phones to their networks as their companies grow. It was founded with $200,000 in funding from the Industrial Research Assistance Program and subsequently raised $7.6 million in venture capital. It has approximately 50 employees and will remain in Ottawa. Avaya designs, builds and manages communications networks. It was spun off from AT&T and Lucent Technologies.... In another acquisition, Ottawa’s Alacris Inc was purchased by Microsoft Corp, Redmond WA, for an undisclosed amount. Alacris develops certificate management and identity assurance software allowing customers to take advantage of smart car capabilities in Windows. Alacris was founded in 1998 as a spin-off of Exocom, a technology services firm that was sold to Manitoba Telecom in 2001....