OpenText buys BPM vendor Global 360 for $260M

Content management vendor OpenText is moving further into BPM (business process management) software, scooping up Global 360 for US$260 million, the company announced Wednesday.

Companies use BPM software to create, put in place and manage various business processes, such as the steps involved in purchasing supplies, fulfilling orders, or hiring new workers.

The Global 360 deal makes sense, given that some 60 percent of global organizations are already aligning their content management systems with BPM, OpenText CEO John Shackleton said in a statement.

It's the second recent acquisition by OpenText in the BPM arena, following its purchase of Metastorm earlier this year. The Metastorm technologies are complementary to Global 360's, OpenText said.

In addition, all three companies are close partners with Microsoft and aim products at its installed base, OpenText added.

OpenText competes in the BPM market with large vendors such as IBM, EMC, as well as more specialized companies such as Pegasystems.

Chris Kanaracus covers enterprise software and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Chris's e-mail address is Chris_Kanaracus@idg.com