Ontario Systems acquires Washington-based software firm

One of Indiana’s oldest software firms has acquired a Vancouver, Washington, company that specializes in making software for state and municipal governments.

Ontario Systems LLC said Tuesday that it has acquired Columbia Ultimate Business Systems, or CUBS. Terms of the deal were not announced.

The combined company will carry the Ontario Systems brand.

Muncie-based Ontario, founded in 1980, produces what's called revenue cycle management, or RCM, software and accounts-receivable-management, or ARM, software, which the company said is used by nine of the 10 largest collections agencies and three of the six top U.S. health systems. It boasts approximately 55,000 licensed users across 500 locations.

Ontario has 475 employees in 27 states, with about 300 based in Indiana.

With 35 years of selling ARM software to the government sector, Columbia Ultimate has more than 100 state and municipal government customers in 27 states.

CUBS, founded in 1979, has 120 employees.

“Over the past 30 years, both companies have proven themselves as consistent innovators, attracting the best ARM customers in the space,” said Ontario CEO and President Ron Fauquher in a written statement. “We have always respected Columbia Ultimate as an organization who puts its people and customers first. We welcome their team to the Ontario Systems family, and we’re excited about the expanded growth opportunities that await us as a result of Columbia Ultimate’s leading position in the state and municipal government markets.”

Fred Houston, former president and CEO of CUBS, has joined Ontario as vice president.