Vianet has acquired the operations of Beverage Metrics Inc (BMI), a Denver based provider of inventory software solutions to the US hospitality sector. The initial consideration is £578k to be satisfied in shares issued at a 15% premium to the close, with additional deferred consideration dependent on performance. The combination of Vianet's SmartDraught draft beer management solution with BMI's inventory platform provides a comprehensive one stop drinks management solution and is also expected to enable Vianet to provide a more effective and competitive brand monitoring and market insight solution for brewers. Whilst modest in size, this is an important deal for Vianet for no initial cash outlay, as it fills out the SmartDraught offering and helps build out Vianet's presence in the US, a key objective of the company.
