IBM Plans to Buy Edmark for $80 Million

International Business Machines Corp. said it agreed to acquire Edmark Corp., a publisher of children’s education software, for $80 million. The world’s largest computer maker said it will soon launch a tender offer for Redmond, Wash.-based Edmark at $15.50 per share. After the news was announced, Edmark’s stock jumped $3.8125 to close at $15.25 on Nasdaq; Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM was up $1.50 to $134.75 on the NYSE. Edmark makes educational software for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. It is the creator of the newly released Mighty Math Series, Sammy’s Science House, Stanley’s Stickers Stories and the Thinkin’ Things series.