IBM to buy FileNet

ECM sector reshuffles pack again

IBM is to acquire FileNet in a move that will radically reshape the enterprise content management (ECM) sector.

The $1.6bn will take IBM head to head with EMC and its Documentum subsidiary and may draw responses from Oracle and Microsoft, both of which have large ambitions in ECM.

"Freeing up information contained in content management systems is critical to unlocking the potential of information to improve business processes and performance," said Ambuj Goyal, general manager, IBM Information Management, in a statement.

"The combination of IBM and FileNet will provide our customers and partners with industry-focused content management solutions that offer a new level of business value."

More to follow.