Sterling Commerce Acquired by IBM

Sterling Commerce was acquired by IBM in 2010. This move marked a significant shift in the company's trajectory, as it became a part of a global technology giant.

IBM's acquisition of Sterling Commerce was a strategic one, aimed at expanding its presence in the business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce space. Sterling Commerce's expertise in B2B integration and commerce solutions complemented IBM's existing offerings.

The acquisition brought together Sterling Commerce's innovative solutions with IBM's vast resources and expertise. This partnership enabled the creation of a powerful B2B commerce platform that catered to the needs of large enterprises.

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IBM's acquisition of Sterling Commerce was a significant move, with the tech giant shelling out a whopping US$1.4 billion to bring the company under its wing.

Sterling Commerce's technology helps organizations automate connections with customers, partners, and suppliers, and it's used by over 18,000 global customers.

The company enables more than 1 billion business interactions a year, serving clients in industries like financial services, retail, and manufacturing.

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IBM sees huge potential for electronic business transactions to grow, with businesses exchanging data and sourcing materials online.

Sterling Commerce's tech will complement IBM's industry-focused software offerings, adding capabilities to its frameworks for retail, manufacturing, communications, and banking industries.

About 2,500 Sterling Commerce employees will be integrated into IBM's WebSphere organization after the acquisition is finalized.

The acquisition gives IBM new tools to help clients build dynamic business networks, connecting partners, suppliers, and clients for a consistent customer experience across channels.

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Sterling Commerce was acquired by IBM in 2010 for $1.4 billion.

This acquisition marked a significant milestone in the company's history, expanding its reach and capabilities in the B2B commerce space.

IBM paid a significant premium for Sterling Commerce, valuing the company at $1.4 billion.

Sterling Commerce's expertise in B2B integration and commerce solutions was a key factor in IBM's decision to acquire the company.

IBM's acquisition of Sterling Commerce was completed in April 2010.

Explore further: List of Mergers and Acquisitions by IBM

Sterling Commerce has a rich history that dates back to 1978 when William Plumb founded OrderNet, one of the first EDI-based Value Added Network companies.

OrderNet was a division of Informatics, Inc. and was later renamed Sterling Commerce after being acquired by Sterling Software in 1985. Sterling Software was a public company chaired by Samuel E. Wyly.

Sterling Commerce changed hands several times, with SBC Communications purchasing it in 2000. This marked a significant milestone in the company's history.

In 2005, the merger of AT&T Corp. and SBC Communications made Sterling Commerce an AT&T company. This marked another significant shift in the company's ownership.

By 2010, IBM had acquired Sterling Commerce from AT&T, and the company has since become a part of IBM.

Here's a brief timeline of Sterling Commerce's ownership changes:

Sterling Commerce has been involved in some significant transactions over the years.

In September 2003, Sterling Commerce divested its Banking Systems Division to Thoma Cresse Equity Partners, who then launched VectorSGI in the banking industry.

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Sterling Commerce made its first acquisition in April 2004, buying TR2, a Boston-based data synchronization software company.

The company continued its acquisition streak in January 2005, purchasing Yantra, a provider of distributed order management and warehouse systems.

In May 2006, Sterling Commerce acquired Nistevo, a provider of on-demand transportation management products.

The company also acquired Comergent in November 2006, a provider of advanced web selling for B2B and B2C platforms.

Here are the details of Sterling Commerce's previous transactions: