IBM buys engineering tech unit
EADS Matra Datavision, which specializes in product lifecycle management software, has distributed products and provided services for IBM in Europe since 1998.
The tech giant said it will pay millions of dollars for the Paris-based subsidiary, but it did not disclose the exact value of the deal. Press reports from France pegged the value of the acquisition at between $30 million and $100 million.
The unit, called EADS Matra Datavision, employs more than 800 people, of which 700 will join IBM. Big Blue expects to complete the acquisition by Jan. 1.
EADS Matra Datavision, which reported nearly $100 million in sales last year, has distributed products and provided services for IBM in Europe since 1998 and supplied IBM partner Dassault Systemes, which develops 3D modeling and design software.
The unit specializes in product lifecycle management software, which is designed to allow engineers of manufactured products, their suppliers and product support staff to share information about product designs, component availability and other engineering data electronically.
In a separate announcement, IBM said Monday that it created a new business unit to provide engineering consulting services to electronics manufacturers. The new unit, called IBM Engineering & Technology, employs more than 700 IBM design engineers.