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IBM today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Platform Computing, a privately held company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Platform Computing is a global leader in cluster and grid management software for distributed computing environments. The acquisition is anticipated to close in the fourth quarter of 2011, subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed.

From departmental clusters to enterprise grids, Platform Computing management software helps clients create, integrate and manage shared computing environments that are used in resource-intensive applications such as simulations, computer modeling and analytics. These technical and high performance computing (HPC) applications fuel product development, critical business decisions and breakthrough science in financial services, manufacturing, digital media, oil and gas, life sciences, government, and research and education.

By combining Platform Computing's software with IBM high performance systems and software, IBM will be able to better serve its enterprise clients who are turning to technical computing to reduce the cost and complexity of managing and analyzing massive amounts of data in a timely fashion.

"IBM considers the acquisition of Platform Computing to be a strategic element for the transformation of HPC into the high growth segment of technical computing and an important part of our smarter computing strategy," said Helene Armitage, general manager, IBM Systems Software. "This acquisition can be leveraged across IBM as we enhance our IBM offerings and solutions, providing clients with technology that helps draw insights to fuel critical business decisions or breakthrough science."

Platform Computing currently serves over 2,000 clients including 23 of the top 30 largest global enterprises.

Platform Computing's operations as of the closing will be integrated into IBM Systems and Technology Group. Platform Computing has approximately 500 employees worldwide.