Microsoft is set to acquire Scotts Valley, California-based NetCarta for US$20 million in cash, with the intention of integrating the company's WebMapper Web-site management tool into its own BackOffice family, a Microsoft official says.
The deal is expected to close at the end of the year.
The acquisition will enable Web site managers who use BackOffice Internet server products to manage Web content and structure across multiple servers, officials say. They will also gain content analysis and reporting features for Web site management.
Some of NetCarta's 50 or so employees will transfer to Microsoft, while an undisclosed number will be laid off, says NetCarta spokeswoman Kate Huchison.
In addition to the acquisition, Microsoft will make a minority equity investment in NetCarta's parent company, CMG Information Services, but will not have a seat on the Andover, Masachusetts-based company's board, Huchison says.