Micromuse

Micromuse was a software company founded in London in 1989 by Christopher Dawes and Angela Dawes. It initially operated as a value-added reseller of computer hardware and software, serving telecommunications and financial-services customers. The company became associated with Sun Microsystems products, distributing Sun Net Manager in the United Kingdom and also selling software and network probes from vendors including HP. This early reseller business gave Micromuse access to organizations managing complex, distributed technology infrastructures. The company's strategic center shifted toward network fault management during the early 1990s. In 1993, Micromuse established a development team for Netcool, a platform designed to collect, correlate and present operational events from heterogeneous networks and systems. The company also acquired OMNIbus Transport Technologies, founded by Phil Tee, and integrated its technology and personnel into the Netcool/OMNIbus development effort. Early customers included BT-related network operations and Goldman Sachs, helping establish the product in telecommunications and financial services. Micromuse later concentrated increasingly on software rather than resale. In 1997, it sold its value-added-reseller division and established a United States holding structure with its headquarters in San Francisco and additional offices in New York and Dallas. The company pursued an international growth strategy around Netcool, positioning the platform as an enterprise operations-management system capable of consolidating alarms and events from multiple network and infrastructure-management tools. It completed a NASDAQ initial public offering in February 1998. Under chief executive Greg Brown and president and chief financial officer Stephen Allott, Micromuse expanded rapidly during the late-1990s technology boom. Its market valuation reached a reported peak of approximately $7.8 billion in December 2000. The company subsequently faced the more difficult market conditions that followed the technology-stock downturn. Leadership changed several times in the early 2000s, including the appointment of Lloyd Carney as chief executive and chairman in 2003. Micromuse continued to broaden its portfolio through acquisitions. In 2002 it agreed to acquire RiverSoft, a rival founded by former Micromuse executive Phil Tee, for approximately £43 million. In 2005 it agreed to acquire GuardedNet, an Atlanta-based computer-security company, for approximately $16.2 million in cash. These transactions reflected an effort to extend Micromuse from traditional network fault management into broader service assurance and security operations. IBM agreed in December 2005 to acquire Micromuse for approximately $865 million in cash, and the transaction was completed in 2006. IBM incorporated Micromuse's principal technologies into its Tivoli software business. Netcool/OMNIbus and Netcool/Impact retained the Netcool name as IBM products, while Netcool/RAD and certain other offerings were renamed or absorbed into IBM products such as Tivoli Business Service Manager. Micromuse therefore ceased to operate as an independent public software company, while its technology continued within IBM's enterprise-management portfolio.

Micromuse was established in London in 1989 by Christopher Dawes and Angela Dawes. Its original business was a hardware and software value-added-reseller operation, with activities linked to telecommunications and financial-services customers. The company became a Sun Microsystems reseller and distributed Sun Net Manager in the United Kingdom, while also selling HP OpenView and NetMetrix products. During the early 1990s, Micromuse began developing its own network fault-management technology. A Netcool development group was formed in 1993 under Martin Butterworth, Adam Kerrison and Mark Peach. Micromuse also acquired OMNIbus Transport Technologies, the company founded by Phil Tee, and combined the teams to create the Netcool/OMNIbus product group. Early deployments included BT-related network operations and Goldman Sachs, giving Netcool credibility in environments where large quantities of network alarms and events had to be consolidated. Stephen Allott joined the company in 1995 as commercial director and later assumed broader executive responsibilities. Under his direction, Micromuse sold its reseller division in 1997 and focused on the Netcool software business. It created a United States holding company and established its principal headquarters in San Francisco, alongside offices in New York and Dallas. The company listed on NASDAQ in February 1998. Christopher Dawes resigned from the board later that year, and Allott became a central figure in the company's subsequent management. Greg Brown joined Micromuse as chairman and chief executive in 1999. The company expanded quickly during the late-1990s technology boom, and its reported market valuation reached approximately $7.8 billion in December 2000. Allott left his Micromuse positions in 2001. Brown departed in 2002 to join Motorola, and the company experienced additional management transition before Lloyd Carney became chief executive and chairman in July 2003. Micromuse pursued acquisitions as it tried to broaden its enterprise-management proposition. It agreed in 2002 to acquire RiverSoft for approximately £43 million. RiverSoft had been founded by Phil Tee after his departure from Micromuse. In July 2005, Micromuse announced the purchase of GuardedNet, an Atlanta computer-security company, for approximately $16.2 million in cash. The GuardedNet transaction extended the company's interests into security event management and related operational workflows. IBM agreed to purchase Micromuse in December 2005 for approximately $865 million in cash. The acquisition was completed in 2006, ending Micromuse's existence as an independent public company. IBM incorporated the principal Netcool technologies into its Tivoli software portfolio. Netcool/OMNIbus and Netcool/Impact continued under their established names, while Netcool/RAD and some other products were renamed or incorporated into offerings including Tivoli Business Service Manager.

1. 2006Micromuse becomes part of IBM

   The acquisition is completed and Micromuse technologies enter IBM's Tivoli software portfolio.

   Source
2. 2005GuardedNet acquisition agreement

   Micromuse agrees to acquire computer-security company GuardedNet for approximately $16.2 million in cash.

   Source
3. 2005IBM announces Micromuse acquisition

   IBM agrees to acquire Micromuse for approximately $865 million in cash.

   Source
4. 2002RiverSoft acquisition agreement

   Micromuse agrees to acquire RiverSoft for approximately £43 million.

   Source
5. 2000Peak reported valuation

   Micromuse reaches a reported peak market valuation of approximately $7.8 billion in December 2000.

   Source
6. 1998NASDAQ listing

   Micromuse completes its NASDAQ initial public offering on February 14.

   Source
7. 1997Micromuse sells its reseller division

   The company disposes of its value-added-reseller business and concentrates on Netcool software.

   Source
8. 1994Early Netcool deployments

   Early customers include BT-related network operations and Goldman Sachs.

   Source
9. 1993Netcool development begins

   Micromuse creates a development team focused on network fault-management software, laying the foundation for the Netcool product family.

   Source
10. 1989Micromuse is founded in London

    Christopher Dawes and Angela Dawes establish Micromuse as a hardware and software value-added reseller.

    Source

Enterprise network and service-management software provider focused on correlating operational events across telecommunications, financial-services and other large-scale technology environments.

• Netcool/OMNIbusNetwork event and fault management

  Netcool/OMNIbus was Micromuse's central operational-event management product. It was designed to collect alarms and events from diverse network, systems and infrastructure sources, then correlate and present them through a unified operational view. The product addressed the needs of telecommunications operators and large enterprises that had accumulated multiple monitoring tools and needed a consolidated incident-management layer. After IBM acquired Micromuse, Netcool/OMNIbus retained its original product identity within IBM's Tivoli portfolio.

• Netcool/ImpactEvent correlation and operational automation

  Netcool/Impact extended the Netcool environment beyond event collection by applying contextual information and policy-based responses to operational events. It was intended to help organizations interpret incidents in relation to business services, infrastructure dependencies and other enterprise data. The product formed part of Micromuse's broader effort to move from simple alarm display toward service assurance and operational decision support. IBM continued the product under the Netcool name after the acquisition.

• Netcool/RADReal-time operational dashboards

  Netcool/RAD, or Realtime Active Dashboards, provided visual dashboards for monitoring operational conditions and service performance. It complemented the event-management capabilities of Netcool/OMNIbus by presenting information in a form intended for network operations centers and enterprise service-management teams. Following IBM's acquisition of Micromuse, Netcool/RAD was renamed or absorbed into IBM's Tivoli Business Service Manager family rather than continuing as a standalone Micromuse-branded product.

• 2005Agreement to acquire GuardedNetM&A

  Micromuse aimed to add computer-security capabilities to its network and operational-event management business.

  What changed. The company agreed to acquire Atlanta-based GuardedNet for cash.

  Aftermath. The acquisition broadened Micromuse's portfolio toward security event management shortly before IBM acquired the company.

  Announced acquisition value. Approximately $16.2 million in cash (July 2005 announcement)

  Source
• 2005IBM agrees to acquire MicromuseM&A

  IBM sought to strengthen its enterprise systems-management and service-management software capabilities.

  What changed. IBM agreed to acquire Micromuse in an all-cash transaction.

  Aftermath. The transaction was completed in 2006, and Micromuse's principal technologies became part of IBM's Tivoli software portfolio.

  Announced acquisition value. Approximately $865 million in cash (December 2005 agreement; completion in 2006)

  Source
• 2002Agreement to acquire RiverSoftM&A

  Micromuse sought to broaden its network-management capabilities and acquire technology from a rival in the same field.

  What changed. Micromuse agreed to purchase RiverSoft for approximately £43 million.

  Aftermath. The transaction was part of Micromuse's effort to consolidate and extend its network and service-management software portfolio.

  Announced acquisition value. Approximately £43 million (2002 announcement)

  Source
• 1997Focus shifts from resale to Netcool softwareStrategy

  Micromuse had originated as a Sun-oriented hardware and software reseller but had developed a growing network-management software business.

  What changed. The company sold its reseller division and redirected its strategy and resources toward Netcool.

  Aftermath. The change made enterprise network-management software the company's principal business and supported its later international expansion and public listing.

  Source

• 2005Micromuse agrees to acquire GuardedNet

  Micromuse announced an agreement to buy Atlanta-based computer-security company GuardedNet for approximately $16.2 million in cash.

  M&A
  Source
• 2005IBM agrees to acquire Micromuse

  IBM entered into an agreement to acquire Micromuse for approximately $865 million in cash, beginning the company's transition into IBM's Tivoli software organization.

  M&A
  Source
• 2003Lloyd Carney becomes chief executive and chairman

  Lloyd Carney was appointed chief executive and chairman, replacing interim chief executive Mike Luetkemeyer.

  Leadership change
  Source
• 2002Micromuse agrees to acquire RiverSoft

  Micromuse announced an agreement to purchase rival RiverSoft for approximately £43 million, expanding its network-management capabilities through a transaction involving former Micromuse executive Phil Tee's company.

  M&A
  Source
• 2002Greg Brown leaves Micromuse for Motorola

  Greg Brown announced his resignation as chairman and chief executive and moved to Motorola as an executive vice president.

  Leadership change
  Source
• 2000Micromuse reaches peak reported market valuation

  The company's market valuation reportedly reached approximately $7.8 billion during the technology-stock boom, with the peak recorded in December.

  Other
  Source
• 1998Micromuse completes NASDAQ initial public offering

  Micromuse completed its public-market listing as it shifted from a mixed hardware-and-software reseller toward an international software company centered on Netcool.

  Other
  Source

1. Micromuse