Early this morning, Oracle (ORCL: sentiment, chart, options) announced that it has agreed to acquire ClearApp. ClearApp makes systems that are used to manage information technology applications. According to ORCL, the acquisition addresses the "increasingly difficult task of managing composite applications built on SOA platforms by providing visibility of business services across all related application components."

According to the brief, ClearApp and ORCL are "expected to provide customers with a comprehensive application management solution providing enhanced service levels, reduced system down-time, and improved return on SOA investments." The transaction is, of course, subject to customary closing conditions, and it is expected to close in the second half of 2008. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.