SAP Acquires Business Intelligence Firm

Oct 08, 03:46 PM

Current Headlines: Officials announced a multibillion-dollar acquisition by German software giant SAP for Business Objects SA, a French business-intelligence software firm.

In the $6.78 billion deal reached Sunday, SAP said it plans to launch an all-cash offer of $59 a share for Business Objects, a 20 percent premium, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

By acquiring Business Objects, SAP officials said they hope to enhance its offerings by drawing on the French company's position in business intelligence. While SAP's existing software can perform business intelligence functions such as tracking and analyzing a company's performance and that of competitors, the purchase will allow Europe's largest software enterprise to add features to existing products, it said.