Retail Software Maker JDA To Buy QRSRetail Software Maker JDA To Buy QRS

Retail software maker JDA Software Group Inc. said Thursday that it has agreed to acquire QRS Corp., which sells applications for managing retail product data, in an all-stock deal valued at $100 million.

Under the deal, QRS shareholders would receive a half of JDA common stock for each QRS common share. Based, on JDA's closing price Wednesday of $12.25, the deal is valued at $100 million and represents a 2.3 percent premium for QRS stockholders. The acquisition is expected to close by the fourth quarter.

JDA, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., makes software that automates business processes and manages the flow of goods through a retail supply chain. QRS, Richmond, Calif., builds products for global data synchronization and trade and transaction management for the general merchandise and apparel industry.

The combined company would have annual revenues of more than $340 million, based on the 12-month period ended March 31. The merger would also improve revenue and earnings visibility, because 50 percent of revenues would be recurring. JDA expects the deal to add to its 2005 earnings.

Hamish Brewer, JDA chief executive and president, said in a statement that the company plans to merge QRS's data-management technology with JDA products “to provide a new class of applications that are inherently data-rich, collaborative and connected.”

The shared customer base is expected to provide a “wealth” of cross-selling opportunities, and the merger is expected to lead to a new business model that combines high-margin software licenses with stable, recurring revenues from QRS's trading services.

“For the first time, our customers will be able to rely on one company -- JDA -- to combine external data with internal enterprise and customer data to ensure the most effective, knowledge-based decision making,” Brewer said.

As of March 31, JDA had 4,500 customers in 60 countries and more than 1,300 employees. QRS had 10,000 retail and manufacturing customers, and 476 employees. The acquisition is the 10th for JDA.