Acquisition will create one of world's largest independent data integration software companies In a move to beef up its customer base and broaden its product portfolio, data integration software company Ascential Software has reached an agreement to acquire Mercator Software.The acquisition, announced Monday, is valued at $106 million and is expected to create one of the world’s largest independent enterprise data integration software companies, with annual revenue of $250 million and more than 3,000 customers, the companies said.Customers will benefit from the combined technologies, distribution channels, and geographic coverage, Ascential Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Peter Gyenes said in the statement released Monday. Ascential, which is located in Westboro, Mass., offers a wide range of data integration software products, such as data profiling and data management, all of which are aimed at helping enterprises lower costs and ramp up revenues.Wilton, Conn.-based Mercator offers integration software that automates high-volume, complex transactions.Ascential expects to close the offer by the end of the third quarter, the company said. Also Monday, Mercator reported a dip in second quarter revenue to $22 million, compared to $27 million a year ago. License revenue fell to $6.1 million in the second quarter, ended June 30, compared to $10.9 million, the company said. Software Development