Software AG gobbles up WebMethods

Software AG said it has reached an agreement to acquire enterprise software company WebMethods for $546 million in cash.

Darmstadt, Germany-based Software AG said the purchase will expand its customer base in North America and make it one of the largest providers of service-oriented architecture and business process management software.

Software AG sells infrastructure software to corporations, including its Adabas database and mainframe-based integration software.

WebMethods, based in Fairfax, Va., has a line of server software and tools for connecting disparate data sources and applications.

It purchased start-up Infravio last year in an effort to acquire more tools for managing service-oriented architecture projects.

In a statement, Software AG said that the WebMethods acquisition will help it achieve its goal of doubling revenue to 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion).