Radian6 will stay in Maritimes

A New Brunswick high-tech company that's been sold to an American buyer in a multi-million-dollar deal plans to remain in the Maritimes.

Radian6 will keep its offices and employeesin Fredericton, Saint John and Halifax, said CEO Marcel LeBrun. In fact, the company plans to grow, he said.

"There's a lot of people who worked for many years to build the business. So our story has been [a]tremendous success and great growth and a lot of very talented people put a lot of work into this," he said.

"Not that this is an end state. It's just a point along our journey."

Radian6 tracks what's being said about products on social media websites. Its clients include global giants, such as Dell, General Electric, Pepsi and Molson.

The company, which started up in 2006, now has about 300 employees, including someinU.S. cities,such asNew York, Boston, and Chicago.

On Wednesday,Salesforce.com purchased Radian6 for more than $300 million in cash and stock.

Salesforce.com, a San Francisco technology firm that helps companies manage their business information online, has worked with Radian6 for years and the time was right to combine forces, said spokesman, Alexandre Dayon.

"Salesforce today has more than 82,000 customers, using Salsesforce every day. Radian6 has 2,400 customers. So we see tons of synergy by helping Radian6 grow faster and bigger," he said.

The deal will probably make Marcel LeBrun a wealthy man, but he doesn't plan on an early retirement. "Absolutely not, not even close," he said.

"We want to take over the world in terms of really shaping how you know businesses do social and you know, no retirement plans at all."

Salesforce.com acquired Radian6 for about $276 million in cash and $50 million in stock. Approximately $10 million in stock and $4 million in cash will be issued to founders Chris Newton and Chris Ramsey.

The transaction is expected to be completed at the end of July.

The New Brunswick government, which owns equity in Radian6, also stands to profit.