IBM Acquires DataMirror

July 17, 2007: In a CA$170 (AU$187) million deal, IBM has acquired DataMirror Corporation and its data identification and capture technology, giving big blue’s information management services a significant boost.

DataMirror’s technology identifies and captures data that has been added, updated or deleted and allows it to be delivered in real time to processes, applications and databases. The company claims this ensures continuous, accurate and trusted information is available for decision-making.

“Organisations need the ability to capture and use information in real-time to help them make better business decisions, better serve their customers and increase operational efficiencies,” said Ambuj Goyal, general manager, IBM Information Management.

By adding this tech to its arsenal, Goyal claims IBM will be able to improve its information management software to help its customers bring real-time data analysis closer to business processes, significantly increasing the value that can be extracted from stored information.

As an example of the technology, the two companies say that a retailer can incorporate information from point of sale systems into a data warehouse in real-time to automatically trigger important business decisions and events, such as replenishing low stock based on current sales and inventory figures. Likewise, a telecommunications company's billing system information can be integrated into customer resource management systems for a near real-time view of customers.

Following completion of the acquisition, IBM intends to integrate DataMirror with its Information Management Software unit, employ DataMirror’s software to support IBM Information Server, and use the technology to bring heterogeneous real time change data capture to clients.

IBM will acquire all of DataMirror’s outstanding common shares at C$27.00 (AS$29.74), and following regulatory and shareholder approval the deal should close in Q3 this year.

Comment on this story