But Wait, There's More

• Fresh from its acquisition of Baan, SSA Global Technologies last week launched its bid for EXE Technologies, a struggling developer of supply chain management software. SSA GT is offering $7.10 per share, or about $47 million, for the Dallas company. That's about an 18 percent premium over the market capitalization of EXE before the takeover move by SSA GT. EXE has about 450 customers, most of which run on Unix and S/390 platforms. In 2001, EXE ported its COBOL-based warehouse management system from the mainframe to OS/400, but sales of that product have been lackluster. SSA GT says it expects the deal, which is subject to a vote of shareholders and to regulatory approval, to close within 75 to 100 days. Backing the deal is Ray Hood, EXE's chairman and chief executive, who happens to hold about 6 percent of the company's stock, which is traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange. General Atlantic Partners, which, along with Cerebrus Group, is financing SSA GT's acquisition strategy, also holds 30 percent of EXE, reports the Dow Jones Newswire. SSA GT, a private company, plans to make EXE a subsidiary when the deal goes through.
  
  
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  IBM recently shipped a series of new C++ and Fortran compilers for the Linux on iSeries platform. The new compilers for VisualAge C++ Version 6.0 for Linux, XL Fortran Version 8.1 for Linux, and XL Fortran RTE Version 8.1 allow developers using these languages to write to the Linux on iSeries platform. The compilers had previously been available on the pSeries server, and IBM is now making them available on iSeries servers running Linux, as well as providing tools to help port applications from AIX to iSeries Linux. The C++ 6.0 for Linux and XL Fortran (XLF) compilers require SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 on Linux-capable iSeries or AS/400 servers. The compilers became available August 15. For more information, see IBM software announcement 203-201.
  
  
• Create!form International last week announced that it will be participating in J.D. Edwards' beta program for the next release of its ERP system. Create!form, the exclusive provider of document management software that's certified by the Denver ERP giant, will be working with the pre-release program to ensure that its software is compatible with J.D. Edwards' ERP 9.0 when it is made generally available. J.D. Edwards is gearing up for the release of ERP 9.0 and SCM 9.0, the next releases of its core enterprise resource planning and supply chain management modules, which are both part of the company's J.D. Edwards 5 product suite.
  
  
• Serena has delivered a new release of its change management system for Windows, Unix, OS/390, OS/400, and MPE/iX. With ChangeMan DS Version 5.6, the company is offering tighter integration with TeamTrack, the company's newly acquired issue management system. Other enhancements the company says it has delivered with this release include better support for IBM WebSphere Studio 5.0, Eclipse 2.1, Mercury Interactive TestDirector test management software, and the Oracle 9i database. ChangeMan DS Version 5.6 is available now.
  
  
• SunGard last week appointed Gil Santos as president of HTE, the developer of software for governmental agencies that SunGard acquired last winter for $121 million. Santos was previously a vice president and chief technology officer for HTE, based in Orlando, Florida, and writes for the Windows and OS/400 platforms. In his new role, Santos will report to Bob Clarke, group chief executive officer of SunGard's Public Sector and Nonprofit Systems.
  
  
• Cap Gemini Ernst & Young U.S., a global management and IT consultancy, and CARCO Group, a leading provider of investigative and security-related business information services, have formed an alliance designed to offer CGE&Y clients additional security and fraud detection in the areas of insurance and human resources. CGE&Y is known for its expertise in human-resources systems integration and strategic consulting. CARCO's reputation is based on investigative and security experience. The two organizations represent more than 500 insurance clients. The agreement represents the second phase of CARCO's technology update program, enabling the company to replace its background-checking system using the latest technologies offered by IBM and other solution providers. The solution, designed and managed by CGE&Y will be built using IBM's WebSphere, DB2, and Process Choreographer workflow. It will reside on the iSeries and xSeries platforms.
  
  

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