IBM To Acquire Star Analytics In Latest Big Data Deal

The financial terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter, were not disclosed.

IBM will acquire Star Analytics' entire portfolio of business intelligence automation solutions, which automate the integration of data, BI applications, and other reporting tools across both on-premise and cloud-based computing environments. According to IBM, Star Analytics' solutions also eliminate the need for custom coding and other manual processes when integrating BI solutions across disparate data sources.

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Star Analytics' portfolio will be folded into IBM's Financial Performance Management solutions, which are part of its Business Analytics Software Group, IBM said.

"IBM sees an enormous opportunity for our clients to apply Star Analytics to the information they have stored in their financial applications and to then easily access it within their IBM performance management and business intelligence solutions," said Leslie Rechan, general manager of IBM Business Analytics.

IBM's acquisition of Star Analytics builds upon an existing partnership between the two companies, through which Star Analytics' solutions are integrated with IBM's Information Warehouse. Quinlan Eddy, founder and CEO of Star Analytics, said the company looks forward to the merger and continued relationship with IBM.

"Star Analytics employees are equally happy to be joining the IBM Business Analytics team," Eddy said in a statement. "We are looking forward to seeing these combined solutions thrive beyond what we have already achieved."

Star Analytics is one of several BI companies IBM has snapped up to bolster its big data offerings. The Armonk, N.Y.-based company unveiled in December its planned acquisition of big data storage player StoredIQ, and acquired Vivisimo, an enterprise search software company, in May.

Meanwhile, IBM reportedly is eyeing a number of other acquisitions, including a potential deal with storage vendor NetApp and analytic software developer Splunk.

PUBLISHED FEB. 5, 2013