Beaufort, acquisitive Aim-listed European consultancy specialist, has snapped up newcomer Dynamic.com in a deal worth £1.5 million.

Gordon Stewart, Beaufort's chief executive officer, has agreed to pay £1.5 million in shares and cash for Dynamic, which specialises in 'web-enabled methodology' and project management, and was only set up in January this year. Harry Cowan, Dynamic's managing director, is joining Beaufort's board as consultancy director.

Stewart claims the acquisition brings Beaufort 'a strong and adept team, as well as an impressive client list', which includes Barclaycard and Mitsui Europe. It is part of Beaufort's strategy of developing its consultancy presence in internet-related markets.

Expansion brings its costs, and analysts expect Beaufort's profits for the year to March 2000 to show a £173,000 fall to £340,000, on turnover up by nearly £1.1 million to £5 million. The payoff should come in 2000-01, when profits are seen as reaching £990,000 on turnover of £7.3 million.

At 6.24p, down from a 2000 high of 17p, Beaufort could certainly do with some convincing good news. Further developments of significance will be analysed, when appropriate, in Growth Company Investor magazine.