Alpharetta-based ChoicePoint Inc., which is being acquired by European media conglomerate Reed Elsevier, said Thursday it has agreed to sell its government software business for $185 million to Silver Lake Sumeru, a California-based leader in private investments in technology.

ChoicePoint said it had reclassified the operations of i2 Inc. and i2 Ltd. as discontinued operations in the fourth quarter of 2007 as part of a previously announced strategy of divesting businesses that didn't fit in its strategic focus on helping customers manage economic risks.

Silver Lake Sumeru invests in middle-market technology enterprises, ChoicePoint said.

ChoicePoint provides businesses, government agencies and nonprofit organizations with technology, software, information and marketing services to help them manage economic risks, and also identify business opportunities.

Silver Lake Sumeru, of Menlo Park, Calif., said the i2 business will become a standalone company called i2 Inc.

ChoicePoint said i2 provides visual investigative analysis software, and has more than 2,000 clients in more than 100 countries. Its products have helped solve cases of fraud, drug trafficking, counterterrorism, national security and corporate security.

Customers include police, military, homeland security, intelligence and other government agencies.

ChoicePoint has about 5,000 employees, including 1,700 in metro Atlanta. The company last week approved its $4.1 billion acquisition by European media conglomerate Reed Elsevier.