Aztec expands deal with Microsoft

BANGALORE: Internet infrastructure services firm, Aztec Software and

Technology Services Ltd. said on Tuesday that it had expanded its business

partnership with Microsoft Corp, a move that is set to boost its business with

the US software giant.

The Bangalore-based provider of Internet infrastructure services said in a

statement that it had signed a master business agreement which will enable it to

work on other projects with Microsoft besides the SQL server group, which it has

been a member for several years.

"Through this agreement, we will go a step ahead to possibly increase

the total amount of outsourcing done for Microsoft," an Aztec spokesman

told Reuters and added that Microsoft was already among its top 10 customers.

Meanwhile, Aztec's shares surged 7.7 per cent to Rs 49 on the Bombay Stock

Exchange, ahead of the announcement that was made after trading hours on

Tuesday.

Aztec reported a four-fold rise in its net profit to Rs 55.4 million ($1.18

million) in the October-December quarter on revenue that surged to Rs 231.3

million from Rs 35.5 million. One of the major investors in Aztec, which focuses

on the booming application service provider market, is K B Chandrasekhar, a

promoter in Exodus Communications.

(C) Reuters Limited 2001.