CA Technologies

CA Technologies. Originally known as Computer Associates International, Inc., it was a major American multinational corporation headquartered in New York City, specializing in enterprise software. Founded in 1976, the company became a dominant force in software for mainframe computer environments, later expanding into distributed systems and cloud computing. Its product portfolio included solutions for DevOps, security, and IT management, serving a vast global clientele before its acquisition by Broadcom Inc. in 2018.

History

The company was founded in 1976 by Charles Wang and Russell Artzt, who identified a significant opportunity in providing mainframe computer software. Its early strategy involved acquiring the rights to and then enhancing popular software products for systems from IBM. A pivotal early acquisition was of Pansophic Systems' CA-SORT product, which established its presence in the data management market. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, it grew rapidly through an aggressive series of purchases, including notable takeovers of competitors like Uccel in 1987 and ASK Group in 1994. The company changed its name from Computer Associates to CA Technologies in 2010 to reflect a broader focus beyond its mainframe roots. In July 2018, the semiconductor and software giant Broadcom Inc. completed its acquisition of the company for approximately $18.9 billion, ending its run as an independent entity.

Products and services

Its portfolio was historically anchored by systems management software for IBM z/OS mainframes, including the CA-7 workload automation scheduler and the CA-1 tape management system. In later years, it developed and acquired a wide range of products for modern enterprise environments. Key areas included DevOps and application performance management (APM) through the CA Automic and CA Application Performance Management suites. It offered significant security solutions such as CA Privileged Access Manager and identity governance tools. The company also provided project and portfolio management (PPM) software, notably the CA PPM application (formerly CA Clarity PPM), and database management tools like CA IDMS and CA Datacom.

Acquisitions and mergers

The company's growth was largely driven by a prolific acquisition strategy, often described as "consolidation." One of its most significant early deals was the 1987 purchase of its main rival, Uccel, for approximately $830 million. In 1999, it made a hostile takeover bid for Computer Sciences Corporation, though this attempt was ultimately abandoned. Major 2000s acquisitions included Platinum Technology in 1999 for $3.5 billion, Sterling Software in 2000, and Concord Communications in 2005. To expand in new growth markets, it acquired Nimsoft in 2010 for cloud monitoring and Arcserve's data protection business in 2014. One of its final major purchases was the DevOps automation firm Automic in 2017, shortly before its own acquisition by Broadcom Inc..

Corporate affairs

The company was incorporated in New York and maintained its global headquarters in New York City. For many years, it was a constituent of the S&P 500 index and its stock traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol "CA." It operated major research and development facilities globally, including significant sites in Santa Clara, Prague, and Hyderabad. The company was a long-time sponsor of the New York Islanders National Hockey League team and held the naming rights to their arena, which was known as the Nassau Coliseum and later the Barclays Center. It also sponsored the America's Cup sailing competition through its Team Oracle partnership.

Criticism and controversies

The company faced significant legal and financial scrutiny in the early 2000s related to its accounting practices. In 2004, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged the company with a massive accounting fraud that involved backdating contracts to meet quarterly earnings targets. This scandal led to a $225 million settlement with regulators and the departure of its CEO, Sanjay Kumar, who was later convicted of securities fraud and obstruction of justice. The company also faced criticism from some customers and industry analysts for its perceived aggressive licensing and maintenance renewal tactics. Furthermore, its complex product portfolio, built through numerous acquisitions, was sometimes cited as being difficult to integrate and manage cohesively.

Category:Software companies of the United States Category:Companies based in New York City Category:Defunct software companies