Commerce One sells e-marketplace operation

By Alorie Gilbert

Commerce One has agreed to sell its online marketplace for business supplies, the ecommerce software provider said on Thursday.

Commerce One customer eScout has agreed to purchase the internet-based marketplace, called Commerce One.net. eScout, a privately held company, operates a competing website for corporate buyers.

The sale includes Commerce One's contracts with more than 1,500 companies that buy and sell goods and services over its site. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Commerce One, based in Pleasanton, California, will continue to support and sell software applications for building online marketplaces, a company representative said. The sale of Commerce One.net will have no effect on the company's software clients such as online automotive supplier Covisint or aerospace and defence marketplace Exostar.

Commerce One and other major software firms have recently sought to distance themselves from a largely failed foray into the business of setting up virtual trading posts for business supplies. After several rounds of layoffs and a reverse stock split in the autumn, Commerce One is still struggling to reignite its business.

The companies expect to complete the transaction by March.

Alorie Gilbert writes for CNET News.com.

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