Extension of IBM/DS Alliance to a Global Level for Long-Term Partnership

ARMONK, N.Y. & VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, France, April 1, 2010 – Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, and IBM (NYSE: IBM) today 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 helps fuel IBM’s focus on PLM integration through middleware, business transformation and application services and dynamic infrastructure, and 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 global vice president of IBM PLM, has been appointed managing director of Dassault Systèmes’ Americas organization. Bunshaft joins 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,” said Bunshaft. “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."

IBM and Dassault Systèmes have decided to extend their long-standing relationship and initiate a Global Alliance partnership. Under this agreement both IBM and DS 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 and extending their cooperation in the areas of professional services, cloud computing, middleware, flexible financing, hardware, and sales and distribution.

Tom Hawk, general manager, Global Industrial Sector, IBM, embraces this new level of the companies’ partnership: “IBM is looking forward to jointly partnering with Dassault Systèmes to support client PLM requirements in the future.”

“We are happy to integrate close to 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 Dassault Systèmes’ history," said Bernard Charlès, president and CEO of 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 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."