EMC is crashing NetApp's wedding to Data Domain with a trumping bid of $1.8 billion to purchase the company.

Two weeks ago, NetApp proposed to acquire the dedupe specialist for $1.5 billion in cash and stock.

EMC called its all-cash proposal today "superior" to NetApp's offer and said the deal provides Data Domain stockholders with "greater value and certainty."

The $30 per share cash bid represents a 20 per cent premium over NetApp's May 20 announcement.

"Strategically, this combination will further enhance our ability to broaden EMC's best-in-class storage portfolio for the benefit of EMC and Data Domain customers and this, in turn, will accelerate EMC's top-and bottom-line growth rates," said EMC chief executive, Joe Tucci, in a statement. "Our substantially superior proposal is a win-win for both companies."

Tucci said during a conference call that EMC had been attracted by Data Domain's fast-growing revenue base for a while now, but "obviously someone got there first."

He said Data Domain would be run as a product group within EMC with increased R&D investment. Emphasizing that the deal is focused on revenue growth, Tucci added that the combination of EMC's DL4000, Avamar, and Data Domain's product set represents a $1bn business.

There was no immediate comment from Data Domain or NetApp, although Data Domain shares were up 19.23 per cent at closing. ®

Related stories

• Fancy winning a million quid from NetApp? (7 September 2009)
• EMC forced to extend Data Domain offer (29 June 2009)
• Data Domain sued over NetApp takeover (17 June 2009)
• Data Domain to EMC: What part of 'no' do you not get? (15 June 2009)
• EMC could dig deeper for Data Domain (15 June 2009)
• EMC sends love letter to Data Domain (9 June 2009)
• Comment Dell and the dedupe appliance conundrum (5 June 2009)
• Data Domain promises EMC response (4 June 2009)
• Comment Data Domain bid war: Could NetApp go higher? (3 June 2009)
• NetApp ups bid for Data Domain (3 June 2009)
• Yahoo! snaps up top NetApp PR bod (3 June 2009)
• Comment EMC hopes for Data Domain 'I do' (2 June 2009)
• Comment Digital Universe adds sextillions to hit 487 billion gigs (25 May 2009)
• NetApp says no one wants to buy NetApp (21 May 2009)
• Comment Dedupe this: NetApp buying Data Domain (21 May 2009)
• NetApp buys Data Domain for $1.5bn (20 May 2009)
• Atmos cloud wafts up at EMC World (20 May 2009)
• Review EZY Technologies MyXerver MX3600 (14 May 2009)
• HDS adds CommVault dedupe (13 May 2009)
• Data Domain revs up but profits crash (24 April 2009)