Another shoe may drop in the Dell-EMC merger marathon. The latest involves EMC potentially selling Documentum, which promotes enterprise content management systems.
Updated Sept. 12, 2016: Dell Technologies sells EMC's Documentum to OpenText.
Dell expects to complete its $67 billion buyout of EMC between May and October 2016. Both companies -- led by Michael Dell and EMC CEO Joe Tucci, respectively -- have been working to strengthen their balance sheets ahead of the deal. VMware, largely owned by EMC, also has been taking steps to strengthen its business.
Among the potential moves: EMC may sell Documentum, according to Bloomberg. EMC acquired Documentum for $1.7 billion in 2003. That business now has about $600 million in revenues and profit margins of more than 30 percent, Bloomberg reported. A private equity firm will probably acquire it, the report said, though a sale won’t happen quickly.
The asset sales may not end there. Bloomberg also reignited rumors that Dell is seeking to potentially sell its SonicWall and/or Quest Software businesses for $4 billion.
Overall, Dell and EMC have taken multiple steps to solidify their balance sheets. Key examples include:
- EMC had layoffs earlier this year and also bolstered its channel program to help partners focus on the most lucrative opportunities ahead.
- Dell is selling its IT services business (aka Perot Systems) to NTT Data for $3.055 billion.
- Dell is also preparing to IPO its SecureWorks business, which focuses on managed security services.
- VMware, largely owned by EMC, also had targeted layoffs earlier this year and is now preparing partner program updates to fuel demand for NSX, the company's software defined networking platform.
Amid all those variables, the three companies -- Dell, EMC and VMware -- have widely been credited for remaining focused on their channel partners.
