CA buys Concord for $350 million

Computer Associates is buying Concord Communications for $330 million, plus $20 million in acquired debt.

CA will integrate Concord's eHealth software - used by big business, telcos and ISPs to manage network performance and predict capacity needs - with its own Unicenter products.

If the deal receives approval from regulators and Concord's shareholders, it should complete within three to four months. Concord will become part of CA's enterprise systems management business unit, and most of its 640 employees will be taken on.

"With CA's acquisition of Concord, we can provide our mutual customers with the broadest and deepest enterprise systems management offerings in the industry," said CA head John Swainson. "This strategic combination significantly advances CA's position in the high-growth network and systems management marketplace, and, with the integration of our Unicenter solutions, will extend CA's overall leadership in systems management."

Concord head Jack Blaeser added his blessings: "This strategic acquisition is expected to be a big win for Concord's customers. The integration of these two companies' people and technology will create a powerful and unique resource to address the evolving challenges of organisations that depend on the reliable, efficient operation of highly complex IT environments."