SSA builds in process market and goes for IPO

SSA Global, now the fourth largest ERP software company, has added Invensys’ process industry ERP provider Marcam to its considerable list of businesses and systems. The news broke last month as SSA filed for an IPO. It’s SSA’s second acquisition from Invensys in 12 months – the last being that of Baan – and the latest in a string of other acquisitions that include Ironside, EXE Technologies, Infinium and most recently supply chain execution company Arzoon. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. “With more than 40 years of cumulative experience, the acquisition of Marcam is a significant milestone for our combined process manufacturing customers and prospects,” says Mike Greenough, president, chairman and CEO of SSA Global. “This transaction also further solidifies our position in the process manufacturing sector and underscores the commitment to deliver extended solutions that increase the value of existing technology investments.” SSA says that Marcam customers will get the same service and support current SSA customers receive through its ‘customer-influenced’ product roadmap, incremental systems modernisation and industry focus. The firm says it will provide a way forward for both Prism and Protean customers, also supporting all existing versions. It will also use the opportunity to offer the rest of its software portfolio “that can address their immediate critical business challenges.” Most recently, SSA launched its Enterprise Content Management system as an add-on to the product lifecycle management (PLM) suite it acquired with Baan.