IBM closes MRO buy

In a move to bolster its service-oriented architecture and asset management business, IBM Corp. has completed the acquisition of MRO Software Inc. for $740 million in an all-cash transaction.

Big Blue plans to integrate MRO of Bedford, Mass., into its Tivoli software business. The acquisition was first announced on August 3.

MRO specializes in asset management software that allows organizations to track a wide range of physical assets and related financial, operational and IT assets and information.

IBM, in early 2007, will release Tivoli software that uses MRO's software and services oriented architecture to construct services solutions to manage a variety of assets through a single, automated interface.

MRO has about 900 employees and fiscal 2005 revenue of $199.2 million. Its federal government customers include NASA, the Air Force and Marines and the Defense and Treasury departments.

IBM of Armonk, N.Y., has more than 329,000 employees and fiscal 2005 revenue of $91.1 billion. The company ranks No. 17 on Washington Technology's 2006 Top 100 list of the largest federal IT contractors.