Dassault Systèmes and IBM completes a transaction

href="http://dqchannels.ciol.com/content/guestintown/110030501.asp">Dassault
Systèmes (DS) and IBM have
recently announced the completion of the transaction for IBM PLM's
sales and client support operations, encompassing DS's PLM software
application portfolio. The $600 million transaction includes customer
contracts and related assets.

This transaction will help to fuel
IBM's focus on PLM integration through middleware, business
transformation, application services and dynamic infrastructure.
Dassault Systèmes PLM clients will benefit from a strong,
unified
go-to-market model encompassing the entire DS portfolio and providing
a complete PLM value proposition under one umbrella. Fully integrated
R&D, sales and support teams will bring DS closer to its
customers. This move will streamline customer engagement, improving
their overall experience.

Al Bunshaft, formerly the global VP of
IBM PLM, has been appointed MD of Dassault Systèmes, USA.
Bunshaft
has joined Dassault Systèmes after more than 25 years of
developing
and delivering innovative enterprise solutions for IBM and its
customers. In his new position, Bunshaft will be responsible for the
structure, management and evolution of American business operations
for Dassault Systèmes.

“This is an amazing and exciting time
for IBM and DS. Both companies are convinced, now more than ever, of
the fundamental value PLM brings to product design, development and a
product's lifetime performance. 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," said Bunshaft.

IBM and Dassault Systèmes have
decided
to extend their long-standing relationship and initiate a Global
Alliance partnership. Under this agreement both the companies will
continue to jointly invest in developing, deploying and supporting
client PLM environments, delivering solutions to their clients
worldwide. Both companies are dedicated to strengthening their
cooperation in the areas of professional services, cloud computing,
middleware, flexible financing, hardware, sales and distribution.

According to Tom Hawk, Global
Manager-Global Industrial Sectors, IBM, the company is looking
forward to jointly partnering with Dassault Systèmes to support
client PLM requirements in the future.

“We are happy to integrate a team of
700 highly knowledgeable sales and support people from IBM. Our
clients, as well as our employees, immediately welcomed this move and
know that this is a significant milestone in href="http://www.ciol.com/News/News-Reports/Dassault-Systemes-partners-Defiance-Tech/51109127375/0/">Dassault
Systèmes'
history," said Bernard Charlès, President and

CEO, Dassault
Systèmes. "Our customers and partners have fully endorsed this
transformation, which allows us to be closer to our clients, to
increase knowledge-sharing and to further enhance support services.
The unique combination of both the companies' expertise and best
practices will bring the value of V6 PLM applications to every
enterprise in every business. We are rapidly reaching a new level of
customer engagement built on commitment, multi-industry knowledge and
high-value solutions for sustainable innovation," he concluded.