Dell Inc., the world’s third-largest personal-computer maker, agreed to buy 3Par Inc. for about $1.15 billion, gaining equipment and software products to bolster its growing corporate data-center business.

3Par investors will get $18 a share in cash, Dell said in a statement today. That’s almost double the stock’s closing price of $9.65 on Aug. 13. 3Par, based in Fremont, California, makes hardware and software for reducing information-storage requirements.

Dell is seeking to compete with companies such as Hewlett- Packard Co. and International Business Machines Corp. in the market for more complex computer systems and technology services that yield higher profits than desktop and laptop PCs. Dell said in June that it plans to double the size of its data-center and technology-services business in part through acquisitions.

Last month, Round Rock, Texas-based Dell agreed to buy closely held storage company Ocarina Networks for an undisclosed price. The PC maker also agreed to acquire server-computer Scalent Systems Inc. that month.

3Par had dropped 19 percent this year before today on the New York Stock Exchange. Dell rose 2 cents to $12.01 in Nasdaq Stock Market trading on Aug. 13.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ville Heiskanen in New York at

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