SAP announced it is to acquire business intelligence (BI) software vendor, Business Objects for about €4.8 billion (3.32 billion).
SAP said the companies will continue to operate as separate entities, but the acquisition is part of its strategy to double its addressable market by 2010.
With little overlap between the two companies' offerings, the German enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendor said it would look to offer the both companies' customers BI products with an enterprise-wide scope along with embedded analytics in transactional applications.
In addition, it said the companies' channel and partner ecosystems would be able to take advantage of Business Objects' business process platform to manage information across SAP and non-SAP environments.
Henning Kagermann, SAP chief executive said: "We are highly committed to the next generation of applications serving business user."
Bernard Liautaud, chairman and founder of Business Objects said: "The combination of Business Objects and SAP means that we can truly amplify the reach of business intelligence - from the C-suite to Main Street."
The companies said additional details would be available about how they would look to exploit the additional revenue opportunities after the acquisition is expected to complete by the end of the first quarter of 2008, subject to regulatory approval.
SAP agreed to buy Business Objects with a cash offer of €42 (28.10) per ordinary share a 20 per cent premium over its Friday night closing price of €35 on the Euronext stock exchange. It will make equivalent payments in the US where Business Objects has the second of its dual headquarters.
-
RSAC Conference 2025: The front line of cyber innovationITPro Podcast Ransomware, quantum computing, and an unsurprising focus on AI were highlights of this year's event
-
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei thinks we're burying our heads in the sand on AI job lossesNews With AI set to hit entry-level jobs especially, some industry execs say clear warning signs are being ignored
-
Put AI to work for talent managementWhitepaper Change the way we define jobs and the skills required to support business and employee needs
-
More than a number: Your risk score explainedWhitepaper Understanding risk score calculations
-
Four data challenges holding back your video businesswhitepaper Data-driven insights are key to making strategic business decisions that chart a winning route
-
Creating a proactive, risk-aware defence in today's dynamic risk environmentWhitepaper Agile risk management starts with a common language
-
How to choose an HR systemWhitepaper What IT leaders need to know
-
Sustainability and TCO: Building a more power-efficient businessWhitepaper Sustainable thinking is good for the planet and society, and your brand
-
What is small data and why is it important?In-depth Amid a deepening ocean of corporate information and business intelligence, it’s important to keep things manageable with small data
-
Microsoft's stellar cloud performance bolsters growth amid revenue slumpNews The tech giant partly blames unstable exchange rates and increased energy costs for the slowdown
