Business software giant Oracle has acquired SPL WorldGroup (San Francisco, California, U.S.), which will serve as a keystone to launch a global unit focused on utility companies. “With the addition of SPL, Oracle plans to deliver the first end-to-end packaged revenue and operations management solution for investor-owned and public-sector utilities,” said Charles Phillips, Oracle's president.

According to Oracle, SPL has complementary products with a shared focus that information and adaptive business processes are keys to achieving corporate revenue and profitability goals. Oracle plans to accelerate the pace of innovation and integration of SPL's products, as well as combine the strengths of SPL's solutions for utilities with Oracle's database, middleware and enterprise applications. The two plan to provide continuity in road map and direction for SPL products, including customer care and billing, enterprise asset management, outage and distribution management system and mobile workforce management. Furthermore, says Oracle, research and development in SPL solutions will now have the backing of Oracle's R&D budget, and significant technology and applications assets.

SPL management and employees will form a global utilities business unit within Oracle focused on solutions specific to the utility industry. SPL CEO Larry Hagewood will lead the unit as general manager. Oracle acquired SPL from private equity fund manager GFI Energy Ventures. Financial terms of the deal were not discolosed.