IBM announced the acquisition of Ascential Software, a maker of data-managing software for $1.1 billion in cash.

The purchase comes amid a raging price war between Oracle and SAP AG for the software maker Retek.
Big Blue says the acquisition will serve the integration purpose, combining the Ascential with IBM’s Information Management software division.

"These are two of the fastest-growing companies in the market, with complementary technologies, so the acquisition is a great opportunity for us," said Ascential’s spokesperson Holli Haswell.

"This acquisition complements and strengthens IBM’s fast-growing information integration business," she said.