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.

• 2015

  OpenText acquisition

  [1]Daegis Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  OpenText acquired Daegis, ending its independent operation.

• 2012

  Database and tools division becomes Gupta Technologies

  [1]Daegis Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  Daegis renamed its database and tools division Gupta Technologies.

• 2011

  Unify changes its name to Daegis

  [1]Daegis Inc.en.wikipedia.org

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

• 2010

  Daegis is acquired by Unify

  [1]Daegis Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  Unify acquired Daegis, an eDiscovery solutions provider.

• 2009

  CipherSoft and AXS-One acquisitions

  [1]Daegis Inc.en.wikipedia.org

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

• 2006

  Insurance Risk Management division is traded to Gupta Technologies

  [1]Daegis Inc.en.wikipedia.org

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

• 2005

  Acuitrek acquisition

  [1]Daegis Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  Unify acquired Acuitrek and established an Insurance Risk Management division.

• 2003

  Development workforce is reduced

  [1]Daegis Inc.en.wikipedia.org

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

• 2000

  Accounting controversy and leadership change

  [1]Daegis Inc.en.wikipedia.org

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

• 1995

  Headquarters move to San Jose

  [1]Daegis Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  Corporate headquarters moved to San Jose under Reza Mikailli.

• 1993

  Two co-founders leave to establish Actuate

  [1]Daegis Inc.en.wikipedia.org

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

• 1987

  Unify 2000 launches

  [1]Daegis Inc.en.wikipedia.org

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

• 1986

  Accell IDS is released

  [1]Daegis Inc.en.wikipedia.org

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

• 1980

  Unify is founded

  [1]Daegis Inc.en.wikipedia.org

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

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.

• Fourth-generation application development · 1986

  Accell IDS

  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.

• Online transaction-processing database · 1987

  Unify 2000

  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.

• Cross-platform fourth-generation development environment

  VISION

  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.

• eDiscovery and information governance

  Daegis eDiscovery solutions

  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.

• Content archiving

  AXS-One

  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.

• Application modernization

  CipherSoft products

  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.

• 2003

  Securities-fraud conviction of former executive

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

  Source

• 2000

  Accounting irregularities at Unify

  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.

  Source

Read more

• 2015

  Acquisition by OpenTextM&A

  Background

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

  Action taken

  OpenText acquired Daegis.

  Aftermath

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

  Source

• 2012

  Renaming of the database and tools divisionStrategy

  Background

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

  Action taken

  The database and tools division was renamed Gupta Technologies.

  Aftermath

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

  Source

• 2011

  Corporate rebranding from Unify to DaegisStrategy

  Background

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

  Action taken

  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.

  Source

• 2010

  Acquisition of DaegisM&A

  Background

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

  Action taken

  Unify acquired Daegis, an eDiscovery solutions provider.

  Aftermath

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

  Source

• 2006

  Trade of the Insurance Risk Management divisionM&A

  Background

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

  Action taken

  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)

  Source

• 2003

  Shift resources from development toward sales and marketingStrategy

  Background

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

  Action taken

  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.

  Source

1. 1Daegis Inc.en.wikipedia.org