Adobe Systems Inc (NASDAQ:ADBE) said on Thursday it has bought privately held software maker Marketo Inc for US$4.75bn.
The transaction would bolster Adobe's efforts in marketing technology as it competes with Salesforce.com Inc (NYSE:CRM) and Oracle Corp (NYSE:ORCL) in the highly competitive world of business software.
“The acquisition of Marketo widens Adobe’s lead in customer experience across B2C and B2B and puts Adobe Experience Cloud at the heart of all marketing,” said Brad Rencher, executive vice president and general manager, Digital Experience, Adobe.
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of Adobe's 2018 fiscal year.
READ: Wall Street weighs in on fiscal 3Q results from Adobe Systems
Vista Equity Partners, a private equity company that specializes in software and technology, bought Marketo for around US$1.8bn in 2016.
Adobe's possible deal would be the largest ever acquisition by the company.
Eloqua was one of Marketo's top competitors. It went public in 2012 and was acquired by Oracle four months later for US$871mln.
Adobe Systems is one of the largest software companies in the world. The company is based in San Jose, California.
Shares of Adobe added 0.55% to close on Thursday at US$266.34. The stock slipped in afterhours trade to US$266.