Micro Focus extends ALM reach with new acquisitions

Micro Focus has opened its wallet to the tune of $155m

UK software firm Micro Focus is to extend its reach into the application lifecycle management (ALM) and software testing markets by splashing out over $150m (£99m) on the acquisition of Borland and various assets from Compuware's Quality Solutions line.

The $75m (£49m) purchase of Borland, which was founded in 1983, will provide Micro Focus with one of the leading independent players in the ALM space and access to its extensive blue-chip customer base.

Micro Focus chief executive Stephen Kelly said the Borland buy "represents the next logical stage in Micro Focus' growth journey".

"Our organic performance remains strong, and this transaction will add new scale and breadth to further develop our customer proposition in an attractive adjacent market to our existing business," he added.

The $80m (£52m) move for some of Compuware's Quality Solutions assets, meanwhile, will give Micro Focus Compuware's Application Testing and Automated Software Quality business, including all related sales, support and development infrastructure.

The products automate quality processes within software development to manage the delivery of results and ensure process consistency and continuous improvement, according to Micro Focus.

The acquisition will also allow Compuware to concentrate its efforts on the application performance, mainframe optimisation, IT portfolio management and healthcare collaboration markets, the firm said.

"This move is another step in the Compuware 2.0 evolution announced last fiscal year," said Bob Paul, president and chief operating officer at Compuware. "It will allow Compuware to dedicate more investments and management focus to core categories where we can be best in the world."