HP announced Tuesday that it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Opsware for 1.6 billion dollars positioning it as a potential leader in the high-growth data center automation software market.
Opsware, which is a data center automation software company, is the latest in a series of strategic software acquisitions by HP which includes Mercury Interactive and Peregrine Systems.
The acquisition of Opsware is intended to extend HP Software’s capabilities to automate the entire data center – from initial provisioning of servers, networks and storage devices to managing ongoing changes and compliance requirements – with integrated process automation, removing the latency inherent in today’s IT environments.
Upon closing, the acquisition will enhance HP’s portfolio of Business Technology Optimization (BTO) software. The combined offerings of Opsware’s solutions with HP’s enterprise IT management software are set to deliver a comprehensive and fully integrated solution for IT automation.
”The acquisition of Opsware is intended to enable HP Software to help our customers resolve one of their critical pain points: controlling the increasing complexity and cost of managing the data center,” said Thomas E. Hogan, senior vice president, Software, HP.
"Following last year’s acquisition of Mercury Interactive, the addition of Opsware is expected to enhance HP’s standing as one of the world's leading software companies and drive profitable growth for HP,” said Ann Livermore, executive vice president, Technology Solutions Group, HP.
Following the close of the transaction, Opsware will become part of the HP Software business. At that time, HP also expects to appoint Ben Horowitz to lead the Business Technology Optimization organization reporting to Thomas E. Hogan, senior vice president, HP Software.
The acquisition will be conducted by means of a tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Opsware, followed by a merger of Opsware with an HP subsidiary. The tender offer is subject to a number of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close before the end of HP’s fourth fiscal quarter of 2007. |
