JDA Software Group Inc, the Phoenix, Arizona provider of retail computer systems, has acquired the Arthur Retail unit of Comshare Inc for $44m in cash. JDA’s CEO, Brent Lippman, said the move was designed to extend JDA’s mainly transaction-based offerings into the analytical applications area. Arthur’s ‘Enterprise Suite’ is a collection of decision support applications designed to facilitate activities such as store planning and results analysis. JDA also said the purchase would give it access to Arthur Retail’s 240 strong customer base, which includes high street giant Wal-Mart. JDA would not disclose profitability figures for Arthur Retail, but said its annual revenues were around $21m, adding also that it was one of Comshare’s more profitable divisions. Comshare said it was disposing of the unit to concentrate on its financial applications. Having paid $44m, JDA will immediately write off $39m as an in-process research charge, implying in accounting terms that the on going value of the acquired business to JDA is just $5m. á
