Troux acquires Computas NA

Troux Technologies is the new owner of Computas North America, a federal-sector enterprise architecture software company. Computas will assume the Troux name and no layoffs are planned, said Pat Emerson, Troux vice president of sales. The deal also includes Computas' Metis technology.

Emerson declined to disclose the financial details of the transaction.

Troux, a privately held, Texas-based company, raised $16 million in funding, largely from Scandinavian investors, prior to the purchase. The acquired company's Oslo, Norway-based parent will continue under the name Computas and concentrate on consulting within the Norwegian market.

Troux has previously focused on information technology architecture for the private sector. An integrated product will be available by the end of the first quarter, Emerson said.

Market analysis showed the companies emerging as close competitors and, "sometimes it's better to join rather than to fight the guy," said Bill Wright, who was president and chief executive officer of Computas. Wright will be Troux's chief technology officer. "We decided to let Troux acquire us as opposed to us acquire Troux. The end result is the same."

The deal continues a recent wave of corporate consolidation within the government IT sector. In late December 2004, officials at IT consultancy Gartner announced a $162 million deal to buy the META Group.

In that same month, officials at security software firm Symantec and storage company Veritas announced a $13.5 billion merger. Oracle's protracted attempt to buy rival PeopleSoft came to a close in late 2004, following a $10.3 billion deal. BAE Systems North America acquired DigitalNet Holdings last September for $595 million.