Micro Focus International, the application modernisation software group, hopes to complete a transformational deal in about a month’s time, as it steps up its move into the fast-expanding market for automated testing of software.

The group said its planned acquisition of Borland Software, a US rival, would allow it to move further into the strategically important US technology market and take on many blue chip customers. In its 22-year history, Borland has served more than 80 per cent of the Forbes Global 2000.