Bertelsmann sells software developer Empolis
16.03.2009
German media giant Bertelsmann has confirmed the sale of its software development unit Empolis to data management holding Attensity Empolis Europe.
Attensity Empolis Europe is based in Switzerland and part of the holding company founded by former IBM manager Ian Bonner.
A Bertelsmann spokesperson told Handelsblatt that Empolis, which develops software for semantic analysis, did not fit in strategically anymore. Empolis was part of Bertelsmann subsidiary Arvato employing 200 people with revenues of around €30m.
Attensity’s acquisition of Empolis adds to the recent takeover of Living-e which was acquired in December 2008 for a symbolic price of one euro after its former majority shareholder Klaus Tschira, one of the SAP founders, was not willing in invest more money.
Tschira, however, is still intent on investing in Attensity Empolis which was part of the agreement on Living-e. His portfolio includes holdings in 26 companies with combined revenues of €200m.
source: thomson