Micro Focus

File:Micro Focus logo c. 1985.svg

Micro Focus was founded by Brian Reynolds in Notting Hill in 1976.{{Cite web |title=Micro Focus: History |url=http://investors.microfocus.com/mcro/investor-info/summ-hist/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912203753/http://investors.microfocus.com/mcro/investor-info/summ-hist/ |archive-date=12 September 2008}}{{cite web|url=https://deleenwilson.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Micro-Focus-40-Years.pdf|title=The 40-year Micro Focus Story|publisher=Deleen Wilson|access-date=2 December 2023}} In 1981, it became the first company to win the Queen's Award for Industry purely for developing a software product. The product was CIS COBOL, a standard-compliant COBOL implementation for microcomputers.{{Cite journal |last= |date=30 April 1981 |title=Software industry receives royal treatment |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iUz6LTd7vdIC&pg=PA289 |journal=New Scientist |volume=90 |issue=1251 |pages=289 |issn=0262-4079}}

In 1998, the company acquired Intersolv, Inc., an applications enablement business, for {{US$|534 million}}{{Cite web |title=FindArticles.com - CBSi |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CGN/is_n121/ai_20913326}} and the combined business was renamed Merant. The same year the company acquired XDB Systems with their XDB Enterprise Server relational database management system.{{Cite book |last=Aggarwal |first=Vinod |title=Winning in Asia, European Style: Market and Nonmarket Strategies for Success |date=2001 |publisher=Palgrave |isbn=978-1-349-63239-8 |location=New York |pages=146}} In 2001 the business was demerged from Merant with help from Golden Gate Capital Partners and once again became Micro Focus.{{Cite web |title=City & Corporate: FD wins Micro Focus equity listing bid - PR Week |url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/471997/ |access-date=31 March 2015 |website=brandrepublic.com}} It was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2005.{{Cite web |last=Dominic Elliott |title=Micro Focus IPO scrapes home after price cut |url=http://www.efinancialnews.com/homepage/content/541677 |access-date=31 March 2015 |website=efinancialnews.com}}

In May 2007, San Diego–based Acucorp, Inc., a developer of COBOL development tools and provider of technologies for COBOL applications, was acquired by Micro Focus for its ACUCOBOL-GT product lines.{{Cite web|title=Micro Focus acquires Acucorp|url=https://3000newswire.blogs.com/3000_newswire/2007/05/micro_focus_acq.html|access-date=2021-03-04|website=3000 NewsWire}}{{Cite web|title=Micro Focus Acquires Acucorp|url=https://softwareequity.com/portfolio-item/micro-focus-acquires-acucorp/|access-date=2021-03-04|website=Software Equity Group|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Acucorp Acquired By Micro Focus - socaltech.com|url=https://www.socaltech.com/acucorp_acquired_by_micro_focus/s-0008948.html|access-date=2021-03-04|website=www.socaltech.com}}

In June 2008, the company acquired the Israeli NASDAQ listed software company NetManage for {{US$|73.3 million}}.{{Cite web |date=18 June 2008 |title=Micro Focus completes acquisition of NetManage, Inc |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS172535+18-Jun-2008+BW20080618 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105041048/http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS172535+18-Jun-2008+BW20080618 |archive-date=5 January 2013 |access-date=11 October 2009 |publisher=Reuters}}

In July 2008, the company acquired the privately held Austin, Texas–based Liant Software Corporation for its RM/COBOL and PL/I product lines. Liant Software owned the assets of Ryan-McFarland Corporation, a Micro Focus competitor in the 1980s.{{Cite web |date=11 July 2008 |title=Micro Focus buys Liant, PL/I, modernization capabilities picked up |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2652640/application-development/micro-focus-buys-liant.html |access-date=8 May 2018 |publisher=InfoWorld}}

In July 2009, the company acquired Borland, a developer of application lifecycle management tools, as well as the Quality Solutions part of Compuware, including the automation tool TestPartner.{{Cite web |date=6 May 2009 |title=Micro Focus buys Borland Software for $75 million |url=http://www.infoworld.com/t/mergers-and-acquisitions/micro-focus-buys-borland-software-75-million-484 |publisher=InfoWorld}}

In 2011, the company alleged that the New South Wales Police Force and other agencies were using 16,500 copies of its ViewNow software on various computers when police and other agencies were only ever entitled to 6,500 licences. The group initially alleged {{AUD|10 million|link=yes}} in damages but later increased this to {{AUD|12 million}} after reviewing the results of a court-ordered audit of the police force's computer systems. The police force maintained during the court proceedings that it had paid for a site licence that entitled it to unlimited installations of the software for all of its officers. Despite this, it settled the matter out of court in 2012, for an undisclosed sum. The other agencies previously settled the matter out of court, also for undisclosed sums.{{Cite web |date=2013-04-26 |title=NSW hit with $1.8m legal bill after piracy case |url=http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/government-it/nsw-police-hit-with-18m-legal-bill-after-piracy-case-20130426-2ijr8.html |access-date=27 April 2013 |publisher=SMH}}

In December 2013, Micro Focus acquired the Orbix, Orbacus and Artix software product lines from Progress Software. These market-leading implementations of the CORBA standard were originally developed by IONA Technologies.{{Cite web |date=24 December 2012 |title=Micro Focus International plc - Acquisition of Orbix, Artix and Orbacus software product lines for $15m |url=http://www.microfocus.com/aboutmicrofocus/pressroom/releases/pr20121224275101.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104025914/http://www.microfocus.com/aboutmicrofocus/pressroom/releases/pr20121224275101.asp |archive-date=4 November 2013 |publisher=Micro Focus International plc}}

Image:Micro Focus (35147492866).jpg

On 15 September 2014, Micro Focus announced that it would acquire The Attachmate Group for {{US$|1.2 billion}} in shares, which would give it ownership of the Attachmate, NetIQ, Novell, and SUSE product lines. Attachmate's parent company Wizard Parent LLC—consisting of the investment groups Elliott Management Corporation, Francisco Partners, Golden Gate Capital, and Thoma Bravo, would hold a 40% stake in Micro Focus post-acquisition.{{Cite news |date=15 September 2014 |title=Micro Focus to Buy Attachmate in $1.2 Billion Share Deal |work=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-15/micro-focus-to-acquire-attachmate-group-for-1-19-billion.html |access-date=15 September 2014}}{{Cite news |date=15 September 2014 |title=Micro Focus to Buy Attachmate in $1.2 Billion Deal |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://online.wsj.com/articles/micro-focus-to-buy-attachmate-in-1-2-billion-deal-1410780066 |access-date=15 September 2014}} With the purchase of Attachmate, Micro Focus became the owner of the Unix operating system.{{Cite magazine |date=23 May 2016 |title=The Oracle-Google Case Will Decide the Future of Software |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/05/oracle-google-case-will-decide-future-software |access-date=24 May 2022}}

In 2015, Micro Focus acquired Authasas, which produces authentication middleware.{{Cite news |title=International acquisition of Authasas strengthens security cluster in West Holland |publisher=InnovationQuarter |url=http://www.innovationquarter.nl/nieuws/international-acquisition-authasas-strengthens-security-cluster-west-holland |access-date=9 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104002347/http://www.innovationquarter.nl/nieuws/international-acquisition-authasas-strengthens-security-cluster-west-holland |archive-date=4 November 2016}}

On 22 March 2016, Micro Focus announced its intent to acquire Serena Software, then valued at {{US$|540 million}}.{{Cite web |date=22 March 2016 |title=Micro Focus International plc - Micro Focus Announces Intent to Acquire Serena Software, Inc. |url=https://www.microfocus.com/about/press/pressreleases/2016/pr21032016.aspx |publisher=Micro Focus International plc}} The acquisition was completed on 2 May 2016.{{Cite web |date=2 May 2016 |title=Micro Focus Completes Acquisition of Serena Software, Inc. |url=https://www.microfocus.com/about/press-room/article/2016/micro-focus-completes-acquisition-of-serena-software-inc |publisher=Micro Focus International plc}}

Image:FutureData 2017 - MicroFocus.jpg

On 7 September 2016, Micro Focus announced its intent to merge with Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s software business segment.{{Cite news |date=14 December 2016 |title=Micro Focus shares lifted by surprise first-half revenue rise |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-micro-focus-inte-results-idUSKBN14311V}}{{Cite web |date=7 September 2016 |title=Micro Focus Announces Intent to Merge with Hewlett Packard Enterprise's Software Business Segment |url=https://www.microfocus.com/about/press-room/article/2016/micro-focus-announces-intent-to-merge-with-hewlett-packard-enterprise-software-business-segment |publisher=Micro Focus International plc}} The merger was completed on 1 September 2017.{{Cite web |date=1 September 2017 |title=Micro Focus Completes Merger with HPE Software Business, Creating One of World's Largest Pure-play Software Companies |url=https://www.microfocus.com/about/press-room/article/2017/micro-focus-completes-merger-with-hpe-software/ |access-date=4 September 2017 |publisher=Micro Focus International plc}}

On 4 October 2016, Micro Focus announced it had acquired Gwava Inc., an enterprise information archiving business.{{Cite web |date=4 October 2016 |title=Micro Focus Acquires GWAVA, Inc. |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/micro-focus-acquires-gwava-inc-300338913.html |access-date=11 March 2018 |publisher=PR Newswire}}

On 19 March 2018, Micro Focus shares fell 55% to 849p after the company warned of a sharp fall in revenue; its chief executive, Chris Hsu, resigned.{{Cite news |date=19 March 2018 |title=UK tech giant Micro Focus halves in value as shares crash |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43457024}}

On 2 July 2018, it was announced that Micro Focus would sell its SUSE business segment to EQT AB for $2.535 billion.{{Cite magazine |last=Burton |first=Graham |date=2 July 2018 |title=Micro Focus to sell SUSE Linux to private equity firm for US$2.5bn |url=https://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/news/3035155/micro-focus-to-sell-suse-linux-to-private-equity-firm-for-usd25bn |magazine=Computing |access-date=29 August 2018}}{{Cite web |title=Proposed sale of the SUSE Business |url=https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/uk/micro_focus/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=108&newsid=1096070 |access-date=2018-07-02 |website=otp.investis.com}}

In July 2020, Micro Focus acquired Turkish cybersecurity company ATAR Labs for $8 million.{{Cite web |title=Micro Focus buys Istanbul-based ATAR Labs to expand its enterprise security services |url=https://tech.eu/brief/micro-focus-acquires-atar-labs/ |access-date=2020-07-14 |website=Tech.eu |date=13 July 2020 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Micro Focus Full Year results for the year ended 31 October 2021 |url=https://www.microfocus.com/media/investors-press-release/full-year-results-2021-press-release.pdf |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=microfocus.com |date=8 February 2022 |language=en-US}}

In August 2022, Canadian software firm OpenText announced that it would acquire Micro Focus in a deal valued at US$6{{nbsp}}billion.{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-25/open-text-to-acquire-software-firm-micro-focus-at-99-premium |title=Open Text to Buy Software Firm Micro Focus at 99% Premium |date=25 August 2022 |work=Bloomberg News |last=Decloet |first=Derek |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220825225241/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-25/open-text-to-acquire-software-firm-micro-focus-at-99-premium |archive-date=25 August 2022 |url-status=live}} The acquisition was approved by the court on 27 January 2023, so allowing the transaction to be completed on 31 January 2023.{{cite news|url=https://www.sharesmagazine.co.uk/news/market/1674820271956012100/micro-focus-expects-takeover-by-opentext-to-complete-next-week|title=Micro Focus expects takeover by OpenText to complete next week|newspaper=Shares Magazine|date=27 January 2023|access-date=31 January 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Haranas |first=Mark |title=Layoffs Ahead As OpenText Closes $5.8B Micro Focus Buy|url=https://www.crn.com/news/security/layoffs-ahead-as-opentext-closes-5-8b-micro-focus-buy |date=31 January 2023 |work=CRN}}

Acucorp was founded in 1988 by sister and brother, Pamela Coker, CEO, and Drake Coker, Chief Scientist. Drake wrote a file system, Vision, and a COBOL compiler, ACUCOBOL-85, now called ACUCOBOL-GT.{{Cite web|title=Drake Coker, Chief Scientist and Co-Founder, Acucorp, Inc.|url=https://www.spoke.com/people/3e1429c09e597c1001c40d1c|access-date=2021-03-04|website=spoke.com}}{{Cite book|last=Radding|first=Alan|url=http://archive.org/details/computerworld3031unse|title=Computerworld|date=1996-07-29|publisher=John Amato|others=International Data Group}}{{Cite web|title=Stellar Women|url=http://www.stellarinternationalnetworks.com/stellar-women.html|access-date=2021-03-04|website=Stellar International Networks}}{{Cite web|title=Acucorp Company Profile: Acquisition & Investors {{!}} PitchBook|url=https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/26034-67|access-date=2021-03-04|website=pitchbook.com|language=en}} ACUCOBOL-GT offers a comprehensive set of extensions for programming and managing graphical user interfaces (GUIs). With these extensions, an ACUCOBOL-GT developer can add a full-featured GUI entirely in COBOL to an existing program.{{Cite web|title=Micro Focus Documentation|url=https://www.microfocus.com/documentation/extend-acucobol/1031/extend-Interoperability-Suite/|access-date=2021-03-04|website=www.microfocus.com}}

{{Main article|Digitek}}

Liant Software Corporation was founded in 1983.{{Cite web |title=Liant Software Corp |website=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profiles/companies/2897502Z:US-liant-software-corp |quote=Liant Software Corp was founded in 1983.}} This company was an outgrowth of the 3-way partnership named Digitek and a successor named Ryan-McFarland Corporation, which was sold to an Australian company named Austec. They sold it to a company named Language Processors, Inc - later renamed Liant Software Corporation. The latter was acquired by Micro Focus International. Liant was still advertising its Open PL/I product in 1995.{{Cite magazine |date=May 29, 1995 |title=Open PL/I |magazine=Information Week |page=77}}

Dave McFarland and Don Ryan, both with a Digitek background, co-founded Ryan-McFarland Corporation.{{Cite web |title=code comments archive |url=http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/digitek/digitek_history.txt |quote=Don Ryan went on with Dave McFarland, also from Digitek, to found Ryan-McFarland}} Ryan-McFarland was a major source for FORTRAN, COBOL and BASIC in the PC arena.{{Cite journal |last=A. Marani |date=1990 |title=Ryan-McFarland and Microsoft |journal=Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling |volume=30 |pages=96–97 |doi=10.1021/ci00065a600 |quote=Two FORTRAN Compilers for Microcomputers: Ryan-McFarland and Microsoft ...}}{{Cite web |date=1987-10-12 |title=RM Cobol, Fortran |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FzwEAAAAMBAJ |publisher=InfoWorld |quote=Similarly, for the past 20 years Ryan-McFarland Corp. has offered its customers standard Cobol and Fortran compilers and tools.}}{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/Compiler_BASIC_v2.4_19xx_Ryan_McFarland-Tandy_a |title=TRS-80 Manual: Compiler BASIC |year=1981}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category-inline|Micro Focus}}

{{OpenText}}

{{authority control}}

Category:OpenText

Category:1976 establishments in England

Category:2005 initial public offerings

Category:British brands

Category:British companies established in 1976

Category:British subsidiaries of foreign companies

Category:Companies based in Newbury, Berkshire

Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange

Category:Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange

Category:Information technology consulting firms of the United Kingdom

Category:International information technology consulting firms

Category:Multinational companies headquartered in England

Category:Software companies established in 1976

Category:Software companies of England

Category:2023 mergers and acquisitions