Fourth Acquisition Underscores Evolution to Complete Open Source Enablement Solutions Company
WALTHAM, Mass., January 10, 2011 -- Black Duck Software, the leading global provider of products and services for accelerating software development through the managed use of open source software, today announced it has acquired The Olliance Group, a privately-held independent open source business and strategy consulting firm. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Andrew Aitken, Founder of the Olliance Group, and Greg Olsen, Senior Partner, will join Black Duck. Olliance Group will be managed as a wholly owned and independent business within Black Duck Software. Aitken will serve as General Manager of the Olliance Group business unit, and also will continue to independently organize and manage the Open Source Think Tank (link), the industry's premier event at which thought leaders from around the world gather to discuss the future of commercial open source.
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Why did Black Duck acquire Olliance Group?
What is the significance of this announcement?
Who is the Olliance Group?
What is Black Duck acquiring?
What are the financial terms of the deal?
What are Black Duck's plans for Olliance Group?
With Olliance Group becoming a Black Duck company, will it still operate as an independent organization?
How much overlap is there between the Black Duck and Olliance customer bases?
Does this mean Black Duck has a new business model/value proposition?
Will Open Source Think Tank continue as an independent event?
Why did Black Duck acquire Olliance Group?
Customers looking to make strategic large-scale use of FOSS to increase innovation and flexibility often need help with business strategy and policy surrounding its use. With the acquisition of Olliance Group, Black Duck now can provide customers a complete offering from FOSS business strategy consulting to implementation of an industry-leading FOSS governance software platform.
What is the significance of this announcement?
The combination of Olliance Group's strategic business consulting practice with Black Duck's enterprise-scale software platform positions Black Duck as the only company that can provide a full range of consulting, software and services. Large Enterprises and technology vendors need a trusted supplier that can provide an end-to-end solution to help them realize the significant benefits of FOSS in concert with their technology and business strategies.
Who is the Olliance Group?
Olliance Group is the leading independent open source business and strategy consulting firm. Their mission has been to help clients capitalize on the significant strategic, technological, and financial benefits of open source software. Clients include Fortune 500 enterprises, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), start-up firms, venture capital groups and government entities. Additionally, Olliance Group is the founder of the Open Source Think Tank, the industry's premier invitation-only event where thought leaders from around the world gather to discuss the future of commercial open source.
What is Black Duck acquiring?
Black Duck is acquiring the assets of the Olliance Group, which includes IP, methodologies, and processes. In addition, joining Black Duck as part of the acquisition is Andrew Aitken, the Founder and Managing Partner of Olliance Group, and Greg Olson, Senior Partner at Olliance.
Andrew is a recognized expert on strategies for the commercialization of open source and has been a leader in the open source community for nearly 10 years. In 2009, Andrew was voted one of the most influential people in open source by a survey of peers conducted by Mindtouch, Inc.
Greg has over 25 years of software industry experience in engineering, marketing, sales and business development. He was most recently Chairman and EVP of business development with Sendmail, Inc, and continues to serve on their Board of Directors.
What are the financial terms of the deal?
This is a private transaction and the financial terms are not being disclosed.
What are Black Duck's plans for Olliance Group?
Olliance Group will be operated as a wholly owned independent business within Black Duck. Andrew Aitken, who has done a terrific job of establishing Olliance Group as the leading independent open source consulting group, will be GM of the Olliance Group business unit.
With Olliance Group becoming a Black Duck company, will it still operate as an independent organization?
Yes, we've set up the structure for Olliance Group to operate as an independent business unit with the autonomy needed to give customers the objective advice they require as they plan for successful FOSS use in their applications, products and services. In addition, the Open Source Think Tank, which is a community-focused event and includes the participation of Black Duck competitors, will continue to operate independently.
How much overlap is there between the Black Duck and Olliance customer bases?
Companies that were early adopters of open source were often Black Duck and Olliance customers, so there is some overlap in customer bases. However there is a significant opportunity to bring the value of a combined offering to the established customers of both organizations as well as a broader global audience of Enterprise IT organizations.
Does this mean Black Duck has a new business model/value proposition?
With Olliance Group, Black Duck expands its value proposition with business and strategy consulting services to help enterprise clients capitalize on the significant strategic, technological and financial benefits of open source software. Black Duck now can provide customers a complete offering from FOSS business strategy consulting to implementation of an industry-leading FOSS governance software platform.
Will Open Source Think Tank continue as an independent event?
Yes, this is one of the industry's premier events and we have no plans to change it. The Open Source Think Tank is in its 6th year and is the industry's only by-invitation event for senior executives to gather and discuss the present and future of open source in a collaborative and collegial manner. If you're interested in attending, please see:
www.thinktank.olliancegroup.com.
