ERP Supplier Great Plains To Acquire Solomon Software

In a deal meshing two middle-market ERP companies, Great Plains Software Inc. will acquire Solomon Software, creating a software company with 130,000 customers, primarily medium-sized and smaller companies. "This synergistic combination of people, products, and technologies creates unparalleled business opportunities for our respective partners and increases our ability to help transform midmarket businesses into e-businesses," says Doug Burgum chairman and CEO of Great Plains. As part of the deal, Solomon will become a business unit of Great Plains, with Michael S. Rupe, president and CEO of Solomon, as its president. Both Great Plains and Solomon offer their products through a network independent sales partners and resellers. Great Plains' software includes applications for accounting, distribution, electronic commerce, human resources, manufacturing, sales and marketing, and customer service and support. Solomon has a similar suite of applications, including accounting, distribution, service management, and manufacturing.