Rockwell Automation Inc. agreed to buy industrial cloud software company Plex Systems for $2.2 billion. Rockwell has traditionally preferred to partner with companies to expand its software offerings, but the company signaled it may be thinking about more overt takeovers last year. Plex Systems is Rockwell's largest publicly announced takeover.

In a report released today, Noah Kaye from Oppenheimer assigned a Buy rating to Rockwell Automation, with a price target of $286.00. The company’s shares closed last Thursday at $285.51, close to its 52-week high of $289.52. Corporate insider sentiment is positive on the stock.

Rockwell to acquire Plex Systems for $2.22 billion in cash Plex is the leading pure software-as-a-service, cloud-native smart manufacturing platform operating at scale Plex provides leading applications in manufacturing execution, supply chain visibility, and quality management across discrete, hybrid, and process industry segments Plex revenue growing double digits and acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to Rockwell ope

“Plex has always been at the forefront of the smart manufacturing revolution having launched its first cloud-native products more than two decades ago,” said Petri Oksanen, Partner at Francisco Partners. “We are grateful to have had the opportunity to support the Plex team in accelerating their execution against this transformative vision and greatly scaling the business.”

Plex literally wrote the book on cloud-based ERP, having been doing this since the late 1990s. Many of their competitors only recently embraced cloud and/or multi-tenant cloud technology. Plex has developed deep manufacturing expertise in the automotive sector along the way. The deal will be very complementary and should be accretive in a relatively short time.

Troy, MI, June 8, 2021 — Plex Systems, the leader in cloud-delivered smart manufacturing solutions, today announced that Hatch Stamping Company, Omega Bio-tek and Thai Summit America are the 2021 Plex Impact Award winners.

Hexagon and Plex will partner in opportunities, initially in Europe and India, where Hexagon prospects and customers have MES needs. The combination of Hexagon and Plex for these manufacturers provides a fully digitalized solution from plant measurement and metrology to managing end-to-end production.

Hexagon and Plex Systems have announced a new, strategic partnership that will enable Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division to co-sell Plex’s manufacturing execution system (MES) to Hexagon manufacturing customers.

Troy, MI, May 26, 2021 — Plex Systems, the leader in cloud-delivered smart manufacturing solutions, announced today that partners Control+M Solutions and Revolution Group, Inc. are the recipients of the company’s annual partner awards: the Plex Partner Impact Award and Partner of the Year Award.

Troy, MI, May 25, 2021 — Plex Systems, the leader in cloud-delivered smart manufacturing solutions, announced today that it has donated $50,000 to support the FIRST® organization and its mission to inspire young people to become science and technology leaders.