Big Blue blows a billion on predictive software seller
Didn't see that one coming
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IBM is paying $1.2bn for SPSS, which sells business intelligence and predictive analysis software.
Making better use of historical company information is nothing new, but SPSS claims to be able to use this information to create "actionable foresight".
The firm started life in 1968 and currently employs 1,200 people in 60 countries. It claims to have a quarter of a million customers.
IBM reassured existing customers that it will continue to support existing products, while better integrating them into other IBM products. In the longer term, IBM hopes the acquisition will boost its own analytics business.
IBM is paying $50 a share - a decent premium, because SPSS has been trading at between $30 and $35 since April.
The deal needs shareholder and regulator approval, but should close in the second half of 2009.
Full statement is here.
SPSS stands for the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences - the first product from the company founders while they were at Stanford University. ®
COMMENTS
Re: Whoah
If the authorities are using SPSS to run experiments on the general populace then we have nothing to fear. All social science types I know fear & loathe SPSS with a passion.
IBMSPSSILOGSAS is really a satanic angram for the following
Slab Go Miss Piss
Labs Smogs I Piss
Labs Go Piss Miss
Bags Lisp So Miss
Sigma Piss Slobs
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