Fiserv Buying Processor for Credit Unions

Fiserv Inc. continued its acquisition binge with the announcement of a $20 million stock deal for Cusa Technologies Inc.

Cusa, based in Salt Lake City, provides data processing services to credit unions. It has annual revenues of $28 million.

The deal, which awaits regulatory approval, "will more than double our credit union client base from approximately 900 to over 2,000," said George Dalton, chairman and chief executive officer of Milwaukee-based Fiserv.

Roger Kuhns, president of Cusa, said the deal came together after several meetings with Mr. Dalton to discuss possible partnerships.

Fiserv had already announced nine acquisitions this year and 69 since opening for business in 1984.

Buying Cusa would push revenues to over $1 billion, Fiserv said.

"The easiest stone to throw at Fiserv is their growth through acquisitions," said Brian Maimone, analyst at Furman Selz LLP in New York. "It's clearly a game they are comfortable playing and they have done real well."

Mr. Dalton said he spends most of his time looking for acquisitions. Though he has considered about 1,200 potential targets in 13 years, Mr. Dalton said, he has only "knocked on the doors" of a select few.

Terms of the deal call for Fiserv to buy all outstanding Cusa shares for $1.35 each.

Fiserv acquired only two companies last year.

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