Infor, through its affiliate GGC Software Holdings, acquired Lawson Software for a deal nearing $2 billion in value.
Duncan Angove, Infor's president of products, marketing and support, says the purchase offers Infor an enormous opportunity to target small- and medium-sized manufacturers with a comprehensive enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution.
"We are developing an industry-specific strategy that doesn't treat everyone the same way," Angove said. "Our acquisition of Lawson Software allows us to do that even more effectively."
Angove said Lawson's financial software will integrate well into Infor's product offerings. He believes that the acquisition will give Infor the ability to compete against ERP companies like SAP and Oracle.
"We'll compete against anyone," Angove said. "We believe that we are now in a position to offer a more complete footprint for manufacturing."
The combined companies will offer richer and deeper functionality in vertical markets where the two companies have strengths. Those markets include healthcare, state and local governments, wholesale distribution, fahsion, food-and-beverage, equipment rental and service, and process and discrete manufacturing, according to Angove.
"When we looked at this acquisition, we recognized the two companies had much in common," Angove said. "The two companies will help each other expand in markets they share and into new markets as we continue to work together."
Infor announced that it would hire 400 additional software engineers and ship approximately 60 percent more products and enhancements as compared to last year. In addition, the company plans to reduce the need for customizations, take responsibility for more localizations and make reports and user extensions easier to upgrade.
The proposed transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2011.
