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Netscape Acquires Collabra Software to Expand Open Software offerings

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Netscape Communications Corporation announced the acquisition of Collabra Software, a leading independent developer of collaborative computing software, to extend its position in the open software market for linking people and information over enterprise networks and the Internet. The combined companies will offer customers integrated solutions for easily communicating and collaborating within and beyond the enterprise using open standards. The acquisition aims to strengthen Netscape's position in the burgeoning collaboration and messaging market by integrating Collabra's products and technologies with Netscape's open software platform.

Key Takeaways:

  • Netscape will purchase 100 percent of Collabra Software for 1.85 million shares of Netscape stock, to be accounted for as a pooling of interests.
  • The deal is expected to close on or before January 31, 1996.
  • Collabra Software, founded in 1993 by Eric Hahn, has developed messaging-based collaborative computing products, including Collabra Share, a leading group conferencing and information sharing application.
  • Collabra Software has 47 employees, including more than 20 engineers.
  • The combined companies will integrate Collabra's collaboration and messaging capabilities into future versions of Netscape Navigator and Netscape server products.
  • The integration will be completed in two phases: continuing support for Collabra Share 2.0 and upgrading Netscape Navigator and Netscape servers with Collabra Share features.
  • The next major release of Netscape Navigator will incorporate fully the Collabra Share functionality within the Netscape open systems platform.
  • Netscape Communications Corporation is a premier provider of open software to enable people and companies to exchange information and conduct commerce over the Internet and other global networks.

Statistics:

  • Netscape will purchase 1.85 million shares of its own stock for the acquisition.
  • The deal is expected to close on or before January 31, 1996.
  • Collabra Software was founded in 1993.
  • Collabra Software has 47 employees, including more than 20 engineers.
  • The next major release of Netscape Navigator will be available after version 2.0, which was announced earlier this week.

Sources:

  • "Netscape Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire Collabra Software" (PRNewswire, September 21, 1995)
  • "Collabra Software" (http://www.collabra.com)
  • "Netscape Communications Corporation" (http://home.netscape.com)
  • http://www.netscape.com (Internet Press Release)

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