Dell to Buy Software Maker Quest for $2.4 Billion

July 2, 2012
Struggling PC maker to take a stronger position in the software industry to help compete with a shifting market.

Dell (IW 500/19) announced Monday it was buying IT management software firm Quest Software for $2.4 billion in the latest diversification move by the struggling PC maker.

California-based Quest has 1,500 sales personnel and 1,300 software developers and offices in 23 countries.

It had $857 million in global revenue in its last fiscal year.

"The addition of Quest will enable Dell to deliver more competitive server, storage, networking and end user computing solutions and services to customers," said John Swainson, president of the Dell Software Group.

"Quest's suite of industry-leading software products, highly-talented team members and unique intellectual property will position us well in the largest and fastest growing areas of the software industry. We intend to build upon the strong momentum Quest brings to Dell."

Earlier this year Dell bought Wyse Technology to expand its business offerings in the Internet "cloud" in the face of softening demand for traditional computing hardware.

Dell, once the biggest maker of PCs, has been hurt by a shift to tablet computers and other changes in the tech sector.

The company, which has slipped to third place in the global PC market, said its profit in the latest fiscal quarter fell to $635 million.

Last year, Dell said it would halt sales of its Android tablet computer in the U.S. market, after failing to gain traction against rivals such as Amazon's Kindle Fire and Apple's iPad (IW 500/14).

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

What Does Agility Look Like for Today's Auto Industry?

Dec. 4, 2023
Without modern technologies, enterprises aren't able to fully analyze the risks and respond to ongoing supply chain issues and semiconductor shortages.

Goodridge Boosts Productivity & Saves Costs by Moving to the Cloud!

Dec. 4, 2023
With Infor's cloud solutions, Goodridge has been able to greatly increase overall productivity, cost savings, data visibility, and automation. This case study discusses the many...

Food and Beverage 2024 Trends and Outlook for North America

Oct. 29, 2023
Ready to hear what 200 of your peers said are the top challenges and opportunities in 2024? Don’t fall behind. Uncover actionable insights to better prepare for 2024 in this whitepaper...

Legacy Phone Lines Are Draining Your Profits

Oct. 30, 2023
Copper wire phone line expenses that support emergency devices could be costing your company millions of dollars in wasteful overhead expenses. Rates have been skyrocketing while...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!