Daegis Inc.

Daegis Inc. was a United States enterprise software company whose roots lay in Unify Corporation, an early developer of database-management systems and fourth-generation programming-language tools. Founded in 1980 by Nico Nierenberg, William “Bill” Osberg, and David Edwards, the business initially concentrated on Unix-based databases and development environments. Its early products addressed transactional database workloads and attempted to make application development more productive through higher-level programming tools rather than conventional low-level coding. The company developed a portfolio that included Accell IDS, released in 1986, and Unify 2000, a C-written online transaction-processing database engine released in 1987. Unify later evolved its development-tool strategy in response to the increasing importance of Windows desktop computing. Its VISION product was positioned as a cross-platform fourth-generation development environment supporting Windows, Linux, and Unix. The company’s database and tools business was later separated and renamed Gupta Technologies, reflecting the changing structure of its portfolio and corporate identity. Unify experienced substantial organizational and strategic changes during the 1990s and 2000s. Co-founders Nierenberg and Osberg left in 1993 to establish Actuate Corporation. The headquarters moved to San Jose in 1995 under Reza Mikailli, then returned to Sacramento after a period marked by accounting irregularities and management disruption. In 2000, Mikailli was placed on leave and Todd Wille became chief executive. Mikailli was later convicted in 2003 on securities-fraud and conspiracy charges. The company also reduced roughly half of its development staff in 2003 as it shifted emphasis toward sales and marketing. During the following decade, Unify broadened its activities through acquisitions and portfolio transactions. It acquired Acuitrek in 2005 and created an Insurance Risk Management division. That division was subsequently traded to Gupta Technologies in 2006, rather than proceeding with a proposed stock-only acquisition offer from Halo Technologies. In 2009, Unify acquired CipherSoft, an Oracle application-modernization company, and AXS-One, a provider of content-archiving technology. The company moved its headquarters from Sacramento to Irving, Texas, as it developed a wider enterprise-information software orientation. A major strategic shift occurred in 2010, when Unify acquired Daegis, an eDiscovery solutions provider. In 2011, Unify adopted the Daegis name, signaling a stronger emphasis on electronic discovery, content archiving, and information governance alongside its legacy database and application-development capabilities. In 2012, the database and tools division was renamed Gupta Technologies. In 2013, the company sold the unify.com domain to Siemens Enterprise Communications, which was using Unify as a new corporate brand. Daegis reported fiscal-year 2014 revenue of $31.0 million and employed approximately 140 people worldwide as of 2015. The company was acquired by OpenText in 2015, ending Daegis’s existence as an independent corporate entity. Its historical significance lies in the transition from Unix database and 4GL development tools to enterprise information-management, eDiscovery, and application-modernization software.

Daegis Inc. originated as Unify Corporation, founded in 1980 by Nico Nierenberg, William “Bill” Osberg, and David Edwards. The company was among the earlier software vendors to combine database-management technology with fourth-generation programming-language tools. Its initial market emphasis was Unix, where it supplied database and development products intended to simplify the creation of business applications. In 1986, Unify released Accell IDS, described as one of the first integrated fourth-generation-language applications. In 1987, it introduced Unify 2000, a C-written online transaction-processing database engine that later served as the predecessor to Unify DataServer. As Windows became increasingly important in desktop and business computing, Unify broadened its platform strategy. Its VISION development environment supported Windows, Linux, and Unix, giving the company a cross-platform answer to the changing software market. The company underwent important leadership and ownership changes in the 1990s. Founders Nierenberg and Osberg departed in 1993 to form Actuate Corporation. In 1995, corporate headquarters moved to San Jose under Reza Mikailli. By 2000, Unify had reported accounting irregularities, Mikailli had been placed on leave, and Todd Wille had assumed the chief executive role. The headquarters later returned to Sacramento, and the company was delisted from Nasdaq. Mikailli was convicted in 2003 on securities-fraud and conspiracy charges. Unify also changed its operating priorities during the early 2000s. In 2003, it laid off approximately half of its development staff and redirected greater attention toward sales and marketing. In 2005, the company acquired Acuitrek and formed an Insurance Risk Management division. A proposed stock-only acquisition offer from Halo Technologies, valued at approximately $21 million, did not result in a takeover; instead, Unify traded the Insurance Risk Management division to Gupta Technologies in 2006. In 2009, Unify acquired CipherSoft, an Oracle application-modernization company, and AXS-One, a content-archive provider. These transactions expanded the company beyond its original database and application-development base. The headquarters moved from Sacramento, California, to Irving, Texas. The next major step was the 2010 acquisition of Daegis, an eDiscovery solutions provider. In 2011, Unify changed its name to Daegis, using the acquired business’s identity as the new corporate brand. The renamed company continued to reorganize its portfolio. In 2012, the database and tools division was renamed Gupta Technologies. In 2013, Daegis sold the unify.com domain to Siemens Enterprise Communications, which had selected Unify as a corporate rebranding. By fiscal 2014, Daegis reported total revenue of $31.0 million; the company employed approximately 140 people worldwide as of 2015. OpenText acquired Daegis in 2015, after which Daegis ceased operating as an independent company. Its history reflects the consolidation of legacy database and development technology with newer enterprise requirements involving eDiscovery, content archiving, modernization, and information governance.

1. 2015OpenText acquisition

   OpenText acquired Daegis, ending its independent operation.

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2. 2012Database and tools division becomes Gupta Technologies

   Daegis renamed its database and tools division Gupta Technologies.

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3. 2011Unify changes its name to Daegis

   The company adopted the Daegis name following its acquisition of the eDiscovery provider.

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4. 2010Daegis is acquired by Unify

   Unify acquired Daegis, an eDiscovery solutions provider.

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5. 2009CipherSoft and AXS-One acquisitions

   Unify acquired CipherSoft and AXS-One, adding application modernization and content archiving capabilities.

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6. 2006Insurance Risk Management division is traded to Gupta Technologies

   The Insurance Risk Management division was traded to Gupta Technologies instead of proceeding with Halo Technologies’ proposed stock-only buyout.

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7. 2005Acuitrek acquisition

   Unify acquired Acuitrek and established an Insurance Risk Management division.

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8. 2003Development workforce is reduced

   Unify laid off about half of its development staff while refocusing on sales and marketing.

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9. 2000Accounting controversy and leadership change

   Unify reported accounting irregularities, placed Reza Mikailli on leave, and appointed Todd Wille as chief executive.

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10. 1995Headquarters move to San Jose

    Corporate headquarters moved to San Jose under Reza Mikailli.

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11. 1993Two co-founders leave to establish Actuate

    Nico Nierenberg and William Osberg departed Unify and went on to form Actuate Corporation.

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12. 1987Unify 2000 launches

    The company introduced Unify 2000, a C-written online transaction-processing database engine and predecessor to Unify DataServer.

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13. 1986Accell IDS is released

    Unify released Accell IDS, an early integrated fourth-generation-language application.

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14. 1980Unify is founded

    Nico Nierenberg, William “Bill” Osberg, and David Edwards co-founded Unify Corporation, the predecessor to Daegis.

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Daegis evolved from a database and fourth-generation application-development vendor into an enterprise information-management company focused on eDiscovery, content archiving, application modernization, and related governance needs. Its later positioning was shaped by acquisitions and the integration of Daegis with the legacy Unify software portfolio.

• Accell IDSFourth-generation application development1986

  Released in 1986, Accell IDS was an integrated fourth-generation-language application associated with Unify’s effort to make business software development more productive. It represented the company’s early combination of database technology and higher-level development tooling.

• Unify 2000Online transaction-processing database1987

  Unify 2000 was a database engine written in C and released in 1987. It supported online transaction-processing workloads and became the predecessor to Unify DataServer, forming part of the company’s foundational database product line.

• VISIONCross-platform fourth-generation development environment

  VISION was Unify’s response to the growing dominance of Windows computing. The cross-platform fourth-generation development tool supported Windows, Linux, and Unix, allowing developers to target multiple operating environments from a common application-development platform.

• Daegis eDiscovery solutionseDiscovery and information governance

  Daegis’s eDiscovery portfolio addressed the identification, collection, review, and management of electronically stored information for legal and compliance processes. The business became central to the corporate identity adopted by Unify after its 2010 acquisition of Daegis.

• AXS-OneContent archiving

  AXS-One supplied content-archiving technology and was acquired by Unify in 2009. Its addition broadened the company’s enterprise-information portfolio beyond databases and application-development tools toward the preservation and management of business content.

• CipherSoft productsApplication modernization

  CipherSoft provided Oracle application-modernization technology. Unify acquired the company in 2009 as part of a strategy to expand into tools that helped organizations update or transition established enterprise applications.

• 2015Acquisition by OpenTextM&A

  Daegis had developed from a database-tools company into a provider of eDiscovery, archiving, and related enterprise information software.

  What changed. OpenText acquired Daegis.

  Aftermath. Daegis ceased to operate as an independent company and became part of OpenText.

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• 2012Renaming of the database and tools divisionStrategy

  Daegis retained a legacy database and development-tools business alongside its newer eDiscovery and information-management activities.

  What changed. The database and tools division was renamed Gupta Technologies.

  Aftermath. The change distinguished the legacy database portfolio from the Daegis-branded information-management operations.

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• 2011Corporate rebranding from Unify to DaegisStrategy

  The company had acquired Daegis and was placing greater emphasis on eDiscovery and enterprise information management.

  What changed. Unify changed its corporate name to Daegis.

  Aftermath. The Daegis identity became the company’s principal corporate brand while the database and tools business was later separated as Gupta Technologies.

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• 2010Acquisition of DaegisM&A

  Unify had expanded through application-modernization and content-archiving acquisitions and sought additional enterprise information capabilities.

  What changed. Unify acquired Daegis, an eDiscovery solutions provider.

  Aftermath. The acquisition became the basis for Unify’s 2011 corporate renaming as Daegis.

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• 2006Trade of the Insurance Risk Management divisionM&A

  Halo Technologies had made a stock-only buyout offer of approximately $21 million, but Unify did not proceed with that proposed transaction.

  What changed. Unify instead traded its Insurance Risk Management division to Gupta Technologies.

  Aftermath. The transaction changed the company’s portfolio and avoided the proposed full-company buyout described in the historical account.

  Proposed Halo Technologies stock-only buyout value. (2006)

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• 2003Shift resources from development toward sales and marketingStrategy

  Unify was restructuring after financial and management difficulties and sought to emphasize commercial activities.

  What changed. The company laid off approximately half of its development staff and redirected its focus toward sales and marketing.

  Aftermath. The decision reduced the company’s development workforce while it pursued a broader commercial and portfolio strategy.

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• 2003Securities-fraud conviction of former executiveControversy

  Reza Mikailli was convicted in 2003 on securities-fraud and conspiracy charges associated with the earlier corporate controversy.

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• 2000Accounting irregularities at UnifyControversy

  Unify reported accounting irregularities in 2000. Chief executive Reza Mikailli was placed on leave, and Todd Wille took over as CEO during the resulting management crisis.

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• 2015OpenText acquires Daegis

  OpenText acquired Daegis, ending the company’s independent corporate existence and bringing its information-management capabilities into OpenText.

  M&A
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• 2013Daegis sells the unify.com domain to Siemens Enterprise Communications

  Daegis sold the unify.com domain to Siemens Enterprise Communications, which was using Unify as a new brand.

  Other
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• 2012Daegis separates its database and tools business as Gupta Technologies

  Daegis renamed its database and development-tools division Gupta Technologies, distinguishing the legacy software portfolio from the Daegis information-management business.

  Product generation
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• 2011Unify adopts the Daegis corporate name

  Unify changed its corporate name to Daegis following the acquisition of the eDiscovery company.

  Other
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• 2010Unify acquires Daegis

  Unify acquired Daegis, an eDiscovery solutions provider, adding electronic-discovery capabilities to its enterprise software portfolio.

  M&AProduct generation
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• 2009Unify acquires CipherSoft and AXS-One

  Unify expanded into application modernization and content archiving through acquisitions of CipherSoft and AXS-One.

  M&A
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• 2006Unify trades its Insurance Risk Management division to Gupta Technologies

  The company transferred its Insurance Risk Management division to Gupta Technologies in a transaction that replaced a proposed stock-only buyout offer from Halo Technologies.

  M&A
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• 2005Unify acquires Acuitrek and creates an Insurance Risk Management division

  Unify acquired Acuitrek and established an Insurance Risk Management division as part of its expansion beyond core database and development tools.

  M&A
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1. Daegis Inc.