Cambridge-based software firm Autonomy is buying US document storage and retrieval company Zantaz Inc.

The deal should complete by August, and generate savings of $25m a year.

Zantaz counts nine of the world's ten biggest law companies among its customers, and 11 of the Fortune 25, so Autonomy is buying a serious customer base.

Zantaz says it "redefines information risk management by proactively automating the full spectrum of consolidated archiving, e-discovery, analytics and real-time policy management uniquely in one system".

Autonomy specialises in what it calls "meaning-based computing", which mainly revolves around finding the right information at the right time, so combining that with archive storage makes technical sense.

The purchase is being paid for in cash, funded by a new share placing and a Barclays overdraft, as well as part of Autonomy's cash reserve - expected to still be around $75m after the deal is completed. ®