Platform vendor BEA, which has been sort of stuck as of recent (e.g., squeezed by IBM, JBoss, Oracle), has acquired leading portal vendor Plumtree for $200 million. Via SYS-CON Media:

Under terms of the agreement, BEA will pay USD$5.50 per share, in cash, plus the assumption of outstanding Plumtree options, for a total transaction value of approximately $200 million. There is a $5.5 million dollar break-up fee involved in the transaction, and
the acquisition is subject to regulatory approval, Plumtree shareholder approval and other customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close in the fall of calendar year 2005.

Upon close of the transaction, Plumtree will become a part of a new BEA product unit. BEA Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President Mark Carges, and Plumtree Software Chief Executive Officer John Kunze, will lead the transition.

Consolidation continues.

Steve Shu