IBM to acquire analytics provider Netezza

http://www.btobonline.com/article/20100921/FREE/100929982/ibm-to-acquire-analytics-provider-netezza

IBM Corp. plans to acquire data analytics company Netezza Corp., reinforcing its growing presence in Web analytics and marketing metrics. The all-cash deal, to close in the fourth quarter pending shareholder approval, is for $1.7 billion.

Netezza's data warehousing analytics capabilities serve such customers as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Nationwide Insurance, Neiman Marcus, Time Warner and Virgin Media.

In the last four years, according to IBM, it has invested more than $12 billion in 23 analytics-related acquisitions. This summer the company announced deals to acquire marketing management software company Unica Corp. and Web analytics and marketing optimization company Coremetrics Inc. Last year, IBM bought predictive analytics company SPSS Inc.