Siebel to Buy OnLink for $609 Million

Siebel Systems Inc., the top maker of software for managing customer relations, said it agreed to buy OnLink Technologies Inc. for $609 million in stock to add products that let companies serve customers online.

Siebel agreed to exchange up to 3.71 million shares for closely held OnLink Technologies, based in Redwood City. OnLink’s operating loss for the first two quarters this year was $13.4 million on $4.7 million in sales, Siebel said.

San Mateo-based Siebel is looking to beef up software for companies that do business on the Internet. The company unveiled its eBusiness 2000 product line in April, which links customer relations functions performed over the Web and telephone with sales and service organizations. OnLink’s products let companies tailor products for customers based on the guidelines they provide over the Internet.