IBM adds Ascential to software division in US$1B deal

摘要

In a move to boost its integration business, IBM Corp. announced it has bought software manufacturer Ascential Software Corp. for US$1.1 billion in cash. The deal, subject to Ascential shareholder and regulatory approvals, is valued at US$18.50 a share. It is expected to close sometime in the second quarter of 2005, company officials said. Big Blue's information integration business produced triple-digit growth in 2004. Its software division alone accounted for $15 billion or roughly one third of IBM's total revenue last year, according to the company.