Dassault Systemes has completed the $600-million consolidation of International Business Machines’ Product Lifecycle Management software sales and client support operations, including customer contracts and related assets, with DS’s PLM software application portfolio.
In October 2009, IBM agreed to sell its PLM software business to Dassault, which is known primarily as a developer and supplier of modeling and simulations software. The two companies agreed to retain an alliance by which Dassault will market IBM services and infrastructure software. Dassault said the enhanced services would benefit its global marketing effort with IBM resources and expertise to improve client PLM environments, and leverage its own DS V6 portfolio.
This transaction is said to help IBM focus on PLM integration through middleware, business transformation and application services, and dynamic infrastructure. Dassault PLM clients will benefit from a single, strong model for PLM, covering the entire DS portfolio, and the move will streamline customer engagement, it states.
Al Bunshaft, formerly global vice president of IBM PLM, has been appointed managing director of Dassault Systemes’ Americas organization. He will be responsible for the structure, management, and evolution of American business operations for Dassault Systemes.
“Both companies are convinced, now more than ever, of the fundamental value PLM brings to product design, development and a product's lifetime performance,” according to Bunshaft. “By tapping into DS's new 3D and PLM collaborative technologies and IBM's expertise in enterprise integration and services, companies will find it easier to incorporate PLM into a core set of applications required for business success."
