ATG acquires Primus Knowledge Solutions

Software maker Art Technology Group (ATG) has agreed to buy Seattle rival Primus Knowledge Solutions for about $31 million in stock, the companies said on Tuesday. ATG, based in Cambridge, Mass., develops e-commerce software, specializing in Web store design and online marketing. Primus sells customer information systems for use in call centers and other customer support functions, competing against RightNow Technologies, eGain Communications and ServiceWare Technologies.

For the year ended June 30, the companies had a combined annual revenue of more than $90 million and employed 479 people. They expect to cut $10 to $15 million in costs as a result of the merger, which they plan to complete by the end of the year.