Infor’s purchase of SSA Global takes it higher up the ERP food chain

Infor, the massively acquisitive ERP and supply chain systems company, says its purchase of rival ERP firm SSA Global, reported here 10 days ago, will take it up a notch in enterprise software for manufacturing companies. Not only does the organisation become the undisputed global number three for extended ERP, with some 37,000 customers, 6,800 employees and combined revenues of $1.6 billion. It’s acquisition of what was Baan software, now SSA ERP LN for demand-driven discrete manufacturing, also gives it an ERP system with the muscle to handle bigger, multi-site, multi-country manufacturing and distribution companies’ requirements. Jim Schaper, Infor’s chairman and CEO, says: “Infor is changing what customers expect from an enterprise software provider by assembling and integrating best-of-breed solutions and professionals with deep industry knowledge that is unrivalled in the industry.” Keith Deane, Infor’s vice president of operations for EMEA, adds: “[SSA] also takes us to a higher end of the market above where Infor has targeted its systems – especially with what was the Baan technology.” Deane says that, as with Infor’s other purchases, SSA Global will be taken from public to private ownership. And he adds: “There’s a very nice fit with the solutions – they extends Infor into project manufacturing, warehouse management transportation, logistics and freight movement.” Says Schaper: “With this acquisition, Infor will become the third largest enterprise software provider in the industry, with approximately $1.6 billion in revenue. Infor has become a significant force in the industry by assembling and innovating market-specific, best-in-class enterprise software solutions, which provides customers with a flexible choice in the market.” The last few months have seen Infor acquiring at an incredible rate –with enterprise asset management software firm Datastream and ERP firm Geac being the most recent, and adding to its already substantial holding, which includes Mapics, Frontstep, Lilly Software, Brain and Mercia. Just three years ago, Infor was little know outside Germany, only coming to the attention of UK users as it purchased SME-focused Swan, forming then Infor-Swan. A little over two years ago US-based Agilisys bought Infor and promptly renamed itself, and the acquisition strategy, with backers Golden Gate Capital and Summit Partners began in earnest. Infor’s offer of $19.50 per share in cash to SSA Global’s shareholders has been approved by SSA’s directors and 84% of the shareholders, and the deal should close in August this year – this from a standing start said by company officers to date back just three weeks.