November 25, 2005

For a reported $30 million, i2 Technologies Inc. has sold its B2B content and data services division to IHS Inc., a publisher of technical documents and B2B periodicals.

Dallas-based i2 said it will use the proceeds to eliminate its debt-to-cash gap and strengthen its balance sheet.

The deal is expected to close in December. i2, which provides supply chain management technology and services to businesses, said its content and data division does not play a role in the company's long-term plans.

"We believe that the ... divestiture will allow i2 to better focus on its core SCM (supply chain management) business and goal of becoming a leader in next-generation supply chain management," said i2 CEO Michael McGrath.

The content and data services division provides content products and services. Employees in the division will be transitioned to IHS, a company spokeswoman said Monday. About 100 employees will be affected.

Englewood, Colo.-based IHS, a unit of German-based Thyssen-Bornemisza Group, distributes its documents through several electronic formats. The company has more than 55,000 customers in about 100 countries.

Source: Line 56