IBM acquires Sterling Commerce for �973m

Dave Bailey, Computing, Monday 24 May 2010 at 17:30:00

Big Blue adds to its WebSphere arm

Tech giant
IBM
announced today it has agreed to buy integration service provider
Sterling
Commerce from comms provider AT&T for �973m.

Sterling Commerce's products will complement IBM's WebSphere middleware arm
and the acquisition will also see Big Blue get the smaller company's large
trading partner network.

Craig Hayman, IBM WebSphere general manager, said the acquisition would give
IBM new tools to help clients build dynamic business networks connecting
partners, suppliers and clients.

Hayman said: "This will deliver a consistent customer experience across
networks and the fact that much of this can be done in the cloud will make it
compelling to large numbers of our customers."

IBM's strategy of helping firms to connect business networks together was
helped earlier in May when it acquired tools specialist Cast Iron Systems to
make it easier for firms to link cloud services to local applications and
services.

Another link in the dynamic business network chain was the acquisition of
leading network automation specialists Intelliden in February.

IBM and AT&T expect the transaction to close in the second half of 2010,
subject to normal regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.

IBM said that all Sterling Commerce employees ? about 2,500 ? would be moved
into its WebSphere arm in IBM's Software Group.

Full story at http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2263595/ibm-acquires-sterling-commerce