X

Oracle to buy ATG for $1 billion

The software titan says that in acquiring Art Technology Group, it aims to help retailers unify their customer experiences across online, mobile, and physical venues.

Jon Skillings Editorial director
Jon Skillings is an editorial director at CNET, where he's worked since 2000. A born browser of dictionaries, he honed his language skills as a US Army linguist (Polish and German) before diving into editing for tech publications -- including at PC Week and the IDG News Service -- back when the web was just getting under way, and even a little before. For CNET, he's written on topics from GPS, AI and 5G to James Bond, aircraft, astronauts, brass instruments and music streaming services.
Expertise AI, tech, language, grammar, writing, editing Credentials
  • 30 years experience at tech and consumer publications, print and online. Five years in the US Army as a translator (German and Polish).
See full bio
Jon Skillings

Oracle plans to spend about $1 billion to buy software company Art Technology Group.

The acquisition, announced today, will be a cash deal for $6 per share of Cambridge, Mass.-based ATG and is expected to close by early 2011, pending shareholder and regulatory approval.

Oracle said that it sees ATG's e-commerce software as complementary to its own array of CRM (customer relationship management), ERP (enterprise resource planning), retail, and supply chain applications, and that ATG also offers on-demand commerce optimization applications that would help provide a seamless online retail experience.

"More than 1,000 global enterprises rely on ATG's solutions to help increase the value of their online customer interactions," Bob Burke, president and CEO of ATG, said in a statement. "This combination will enhance the ability to bring all their commerce activities together--creating a more consistent and relevant experience for their customers across all interaction channels, including online, in stores, via mobile devices and with call centers."