In a move to jump-start growth in the business intelligence arena, SAP will acquire Business Objects SA for about €4.8 billion (NZ$8.8 billion).
The German ERP vendor announced on Sunday night that it plans to combine its software offering with the French business intelligence (BI) vendor's products to offer both companies' customers real-time information about their businesses.
Acquiring Business Objects will allow it to move into the BI market, and offer integrated software, far faster than through co-innovation, said SAP CEO Henning Kagermann during a conference call with journalists.
The two companies' boards agreed to the deal on Sunday, said Kagermann.
"Customers have demanded an integrated, end-to-end business process landscape," Kagermann said. "The biggest driver was definitely growing new business."
There is little overlap between the two companies, Kagermann said.
"There are opportunities on the top line so that we won't need heavy restructuring," he said.
Business Objects will continue to operate separately from its new parent.
"We will operate as a stand-alone entity within the SAP Group," said Business Objects CEO John Schwarz.
But Business Objects will tie its software more closely to SAP's products in a future version, Schwarz said.
SAP's business software rival Oracle recently bought another BI vendor, Hyperion.
Schwarz said SAP and Business Objects' combined reach through resellers to mid-market companies will help them compete effectively.
"Together we have almost 5,000 business partners. I think it will be a formidable force as we put our solutions together," he said.
SAP extended its reach into the mid-market last month with the launch of a suite of hosted ERP software called SAP Business ByDesign.
When asked on the conference call when the companies will be able to offer integrated software, Kagermann pleaded for time.
"Give us a little time, please. This is not a finalised transaction. Until it is closed both companies will plan how to do it and talk."