Reports: Compucom Sells Software Licensing Business to SoftwareOne

Solution provider Compucom reportedly has sold off its entire software business unit to SoftwareOne, a $4 billion software licensing specialist based in Stans, Switzerland with offices and operations in the U.S., in an as-yet unannounced deal of undisclosed value.

SoftwareOne reportedly has disclosed the acquisition, which is said to include not only Compucom’s coveted Microsoft (MSFT) licensing business but also its entire software business operation, to its U.S.-based employees. SoftwareOne apparently will handle all of Compucom’s contract management and services portfolio beginning next month, and maintain its sales operations in Dallas, Canada and Mexico, CRN reported.

Earlier this year, buzz circulated that Compucom had lost its valuable Microsoft Licensing Solution Provider (LSP) status for enterprise accounts owing to subpar performance. Subsequent reports said the solution provider quietly had put its Microsoft software licensing business on the sales block with SoftwareOne emerging as an interested buyer.

While there has been no word from SoftwareOne confirming the deal, a Compucom spokesperson told CRN that the sale of its software licensing business will enable it to concentrate on services, services management and cloud technology, its so-called “core offerings.”

Computer Dealer News (CDN) also reported that its sources had confirmed the sale.

The software unit sell off is Compucom’s first deal since last month’s appointment of Don Doctor, executive chairman of its board of directors, to replace Jim Dixon at the company’s helm after a six-month long search.

Dixon, who’s retiring as the company’s chief executive, has returned to his prior role as board chairman and Compucom has tasked Doctor with providing global leadership and operational expertise to deliver on its mission and strategy.

Compucom also recently named Dan Stone, a former Lenovo chief strategy officer (CSO) and Lenovo Latin America president and general manager, to head its End-User Enablement business unit, and tapped Pam Baxter as its new chief information officer (CIO).