PTC today announced it has completed its acquisition of Kepware, a software development company that provides communications connectivity to industrial automation environments. The acquisition enhances PTC’s portfolio of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, and accelerates the company’s entry into the factory setting and Industrial IoT (IIoT).
Kepware’s KEPServerEX® communications platform will become a strategic component of the PTC ThingWorx® IoT technology platform. Once the companies’ products are integrated, machine data can be aggregated into the PTC ThingWorx platform, integrated with a wide array of internal and external information, and then automatically analyzed using ThingWorx machine learning capabilities. The integration will allow organizations to gain enterprise-wide insight and to proactively optimize mission-critical processes – enabling them to improve operational performance, quality, and time to market.
“With Kepware, PTC will be able to accelerate its delivery of world-class solutions to industrial environments, and help manufacturers, infrastructure operators, and others realize the enormous potential of the Industrial Internet of Things,” said Jim Heppelmann, president and CEO, PTC. “We welcome and look forward to working closely with our Kepware employees, customers, and partners.”
“Heterogeneous industrial connectivity will be one of the big challenges for creating a truly connected and digital factory. By enabling customers to combine external data inputs with industrial controls through the integration of Kepware with PTC ThingWorx, PTC is extending its leadership in evolving the on-demand economy,” said Hyoun Park, Chief Research Officer, Blue Hill Research.
Over the past 12 months, privately-held Kepware generated approximately $20 million in revenue. PTC drew on its credit facility to finance this transaction. PTC expects Kepware to be neutral to its FY’16 non-GAAP EPS, and will provide additional financial guidance related to the acquisition on its fiscal Q1’16 earnings call, scheduled for Wednesday, January 20, at 5:00 pm Eastern Time.