SAP plans to acquire TechniData, a German company that provides software to help businesses comply with environmental, health and safety regulations.
In addition to software, TechniData offers managed services and information about regulations, and performs systems integration work.
The acquisition will allow SAP to tie TechniData's offerings more closely to its own. The companies have already been partners for 15 years, and working together from 1997 on the development of SAP's own Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Compliance software module. Since 2001, TechniData has been responsible for the development, maintenance and marketing of that module, according to its Web site.
TechniData's customers include chemical giant BASF, which uses TechniData's software to ensure its compliance with the European Union REACH Directive on the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemical substances, and Volkswagen, which tracks sales of spare parts using TechniData Business Compliance Services.
SAP expects to close the deal early in the third quarter. It didn't say how much it will pay for TechniData, or what will happen to the company's 500 employees. TechniData has around 1,600 customers, and made sales worth €65 million (US$87 million) in its 2008 fiscal year, the company said.
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