JDA Software buys Manugistics

... and will be taking on some new debt to do it. This on the heels of a "disappointing" quarter. More...

CDC sees c360 CRM

"Not waiting for a response on its sweetened offer to acquire Onyx Software Inc., CDC Software Inc. late last week agreed to buy another customer relationship management (CRM) software vendor to advance its growth-by-acquisition desires." This article at Managing Automation suggests there's actually a ERP-centric strategy behind the acquisition binge!

Battle of the MS-PEGGIES

That's my new name for PEG (Private Equity Group) funded takeover shops formerly known as Made2Manage and Intuitive. Both companies had previously built their business around an all-Microsoft platform bet (do some Googling for their crowing about being first to implement .NET and the like). Well, look what it got 'em. Run up on the rocks, and acquired by PEGs who told them, like Michael Corleone said to Mo Green, "you're unlucky. We think we can do better."

So two pieces of news for the MS-PEGGIES. Intuitive yesterday announced they were acquiring Relevant Business Systems. Write your own punch line here. (Sorry - that was a cheap one. Relevant's INFIMACS is a well-known solution in the A&D market). This follows last month's pickup of SupplyWorks, which your host had somehow overlooked.

Made2Manage, not to be outdone, last week announced its purchase of ETO specialist Encompix. In case you missed the point, the company press release refers to its own "acquisition spree" in the headline, and helpfully notes, "The acquisition marks Made2Manage Systems’ fifth purchase in the last 20 months." Sheesh.

Spreadsheet of Graveyard deals

Thanks to Teresa Jones, Senior Research Analyst at the Butler Group in the UK, for compiling and making available to ERP Graveyard readers this spreadsheet of dates and deal terms for much of what's transpired in the past fifteen years or so. We'll do our best to update it along with the Scorecard - and if we get inspired, might end up combining the two with mouseover ALT TEXT tags or something like that.

CDC (fka ChinaDotCom) grabs supply chain product, hungers for more

The acquirer of Ross, Pivotal, and IMI has struck again. But here's the money quote from Steven Chan, acting CEO: "JRG is one of several acquisition targets that we are actively evaluating and negotiating and look to conclude this quarter. The acquisition of JRG reflects our commitment to leveraging our strong balance sheet of US$212 million in net cash to continue acquiring synergistic companies and products."

OK, so $212MM doesn't buy you QAD or IFS. But who will it get you?