The acquisition is structured as a stock and cash purchase based on an offer to shareholders of 300DKK per share. The total transaction value is estimated at approximately $1.3 billion (U.S.)/1.4 billion EUR/10.8 billion DKK.

"Due to Microsoft’s vast amount of resources and the incredible monetary investment in research, this acquisition will effect end users of Navision software in an extremely positive manner," states Larry Schiff, President of BMI. "BMI has been committed to helping mid-market businesses meet and exceed their goals through software, solutions and services. With the acquisition, BMI will to continue to offer best of breed Navision products to clients, but now with the added bonus of Microsoft power. We are very excited about how this will add value to our customers," added Mr. Schiff.

"The combined vision, business strategy and product offerings of Microsoft and Navision will provide great benefits to small and mid-market customers, and will create strong growth opportunities for Microsoft," said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. "Many business processes in these companies are not yet benefiting from the efficiencies that technology offers. Microsoft and the Navision team together are committed to delivering compelling and powerful solutions and products to this important and large market segment, through our partners, that will enable businesses to be more competitive, agile and productive."

"Microsoft and Navision have had parallel lives, each with a deep belief in building long-term customer relationships achieved through lasting commitment to talented, value-adding partners," said Doug Burgum, senior vice president of Microsoft and president of Microsoft Great Plains. "The combination of these two strong organizations with deeply similar values and approaches makes enormous strategic sense, and will create enhanced opportunities for partners and even more capable and affordable solutions for customers."

For Navision, the union represents the logical next step in the company’s continued commitment to helping businesses grow. "Navision and Microsoft share a common vision for business applications. Through our combined technologies, we will enhance and broaden the solutions that our customers already have invested in, and continue to provide customers with new generations of business applications that make business processes easier and more interconnected," said Jesper Balser, co-CEO of Navision.

Once the acquisition has been completed, Navision will become part of Microsoft’s Business Solutions division. Navision’s corporate headquarters in Vedbaek, Denmark, will become the center of development and operations for Microsoft Business Solutions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and will become Microsoft’s largest product development center outside the United States.

"Navision’s success is built upon a deep understanding of customer needs that is delivered through an extensive local partner network," said Preben Damgaard, co-CEO of Navision. "Microsoft’s commitment to expanding its product development efforts to EMEA underscores our shared vision for customer solutions that meet the specific needs of our increasingly global customer base."