In its second acquisition in about 15 months, Emptoris, a developer of supplier management software, has acquired privately-held Valuedge, a provider of supplier assessment software. Terms of the purchase weren't disclosed.
Avner Schneur, Emptoris founder and chief executive, said in an interview that the Valuedge acquisition adds an important functional component to Emptoris' suite of Web-based supply management software modules. Among the functional capabilities of the Emptoris 5 product are supplier qualification and performance. By adding Valuedge's assessment capabilities, which include auditing business processes and practices, the Emptoris line is now better positioned for more comprehensive supplier management, he said.
"By taking all three capabilities -- qualification, performance and assessment -- and blending them together, we are enabling companies to manage the next cycle of their supplier engagement," Schneur said.
Prior to the acquisition, Emptoris had a two-year OEM relationship with Valuedge under which it resold the Valuedge product. Schneur said the relationship has allowed Emptoris to become familiar with the Valuedge technology and easily integrate it into the Emptoris line. Valuedge was founded about four years ago.
Valuedge president and CEO Sherry Gordon has joined Emptoris as vice president of supplier performance intelligence.
Emptoris recently closed a $12 million round of financing. In its third quarter of 2004, the privately-held company said it signed 15 major deals, fueling revenue growth of about 200%. Schneur said the company's licensee base now totals about 100 companies, among which are Motorola, GlaxoSmithKline and Owens Corning.
In September 2003, Emptoris acquired Zeborg, a spend analytics software company.
Among Emptoris' competitors in the enterprise supply management market, according to Schneur, are Ariba and A.T. Kearney as well as ERP suppliers.