Oracle to acquire Skywire Software

Oracle on Monday announced plans to expand its enterprise insurance applications business with the acquisition of Skywire Software.

Skywire develops software designed to manage insurance policies from their initial creation, rating and oversight by insurance agents and brokers. Skywire's applications will be combined with Oracle's Insurance Global Business Unit and the software giant's pending acquisition of AdminServer.

Oracle's announcement marks its latest effort to bolster its breadth of enterprise software applications in targeted markets, ranging from transaction-processing specialist Tangosol to retail specialist Retek to logistics and transportation management specialist G-Log.

Roughly over 1,000 insurers already use Oracle's software, and the Skywire acquisition will bring an additional 1,450 insurance customers to the mix.

"Insurance is a strategic industry for Oracle, with growth focused on integrated packaged applications," Oracle President Charles Phillips said in a statement.

The deal is expected to close in the second half of the year. Financial terms were not disclosed.

[gsmiller88]

Monopoly anyone?

[elester1172]

AdminServer's software provides policy administration. Skywire is a provider of Business Process Outsourcing and document management. These decisions seem like they are an interesting strategic direction and could place Oracle in the unique position with major initiatives in the works currently in the insurance industry.