Red Hat has announced a definitive agreement to add API management to its portfolio by acquiring 3Scale. The acquisition adds an important piece to Red Hat's strategy to build a complete stack for cloud, microservice and other enterprise applications.

3Scale provides tools to allow developers to author, publish, scale and manage APIs. The company also provides a software as a service cloud platform for information, metering and charging for API users, Rich Sharples, senior director of product management, middleware business unit for Red Hat Inc. (NYSE: RHT), tells Light Reading.

"APIs are first class currency for modern application development," Sharples says. "All modern application development involves thinking about APIs and publishing APIs."

APIs are used by cloud services to allow applications to connect to each other. Individual businesses use APIs to connect to applications run by business partners, and business units use APIs to connect their applications to other applications run by other business units within the same company.

For example, a bank might use APIs to allow affiliated businesses to connect to a credit card reward system. Businesses in the hospitality industry use APIs to connect to services such as OpenTable for restaurant reservations, or TripIt to allow travelers to manage their reservations, Sharples says.

In a statement, Red Hat cites a Forrester estimate that 40% of US companies will have API management solutions, spending $660 million, in 2020.

Red Hat has been partnering with 3Scale since last year; the acquisition will give Red Hat "speed and expertise," Sharples says. It gives Red Hat a company that already has a sales force and consultants on the ground -- "a bit of a boost."

Want to know more about the cloud? Visit Light Reading Enterprise Cloud.

Red Hat will integrate 3Scale's software with its existing software line, including JBoss Middleware, OpenShift and its Mobile Application Platform.

3Scale was founded in 2007, with offices in Barcelona and San Francisco. Its more than 700 customers include Campbell's Soup, Cartera Commerce, CrunchBase and Johnson Controls.

Red Hat expects the acquisition, which will close this month, will have no material impact on revenue for the second fiscal quarter ending August 31 or fiscal year ending February 28. GAAP operating expenses will increase by about $3 million or $0.01 per share in the second quarter and by about $7 million or $0.03 per share in fiscal 2017.

3Scale has raised $5 million in total equity funding in two rounds from seven investors, according to CrunchBase.

Related posts:

— Mitch Wagner, , Editor, Light Reading Enterprise Cloud.