Oracle to buy RuleBurst

Oracle Corp. plans to acquire RuleBurst Holdings Ltd., the parent company of rules-management software maker Haley Ltd. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Haley provides policy modeling and automation software to social services agencies and various private-sector industries. The acquisition will enhance Oracle's software offerings for social services agencies, Oracle officials said.

Haley's automated policy platform translates legislation and policies into defined, automated rules for various applications. When combined with Oracle's enterprise resource planning and Siebel customer relationship management applications, Haley's automated tool will offer social services agencies a comprehensive software package. For example, it can help caseworkers and others determine clients' eligibility for services.

Highly regulated private-sector industries, such as financial services and insurance, also use Haley's automated policy platform.

In the wake of the acquisition, Haley's chief executive officer, Dominic O'Hanlon, will become senior vice president and general manager of a new business unit that will target the policy-automation needs of commercial and government customers.

RuleBurst is based in Chatswood, Australia. The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2009, Oracle officials said.