Rocket’s Acquisition of OpenText AMC (Formely MicroFocus) is a BIG DEAL

Last week, Rocket Software closed its $2.275B acquisition of OpenText’s AMC business, creating one of the world’s largest mainframe modernization and connectivity software companies. When I interviewed for Rocket under NDA, they shared their acquisition strategy with me, and I thought it was brilliant. The pending deal was one of the big reasons I was delighted to serve as Rocket SW General Manager for the Partner ecosystem

Now that the deal is closed, Rocket Software has become the leader in IT modernization, enabling seamless technological evolution for mainframe customers. This is an exciting development for our partner ecosystem, customers, and the overall tech community.

Critical Benefits for Partners and Customers?

From a go-to-market and partner ecosystem perspective, combining OpenText AMC and Rocket Software allows us to:

• tap into comprehensive solutions, resources, and expertise so we can tackle modernization challenges at scale;?
• meet clients wherever they are in their modernization journey so they can transform over time without disruption;
• bring OpenText’s AMC (formerly MicroFocus) partners into the Rocket Software ecosystem, expanding our footprint to more than 750 companies, and provide partners with more opportunities to retain business, cross-sell, and grow.?

Next Steps for the Partner Ecosystem Team

Now, it is time for execution. As you have read in my previous LinkedIn articles and posts about my go-to-market consultancy, CXO4, I am passionate about going from strategy to execution. And we all know “the devil is in the details.”?

In the partner ecosystem business, we plan to move quickly to take advantage of momentum and leverage this deal's benefits. Specifically, we will execute three key steps to ensure our new Rocketeers—as well as our new and current Rocket Partners—continue to succeed and grow the business.

1. We have announced the opening of a Global Partner Office to support our partners during this transition. The GPO will be responsible for creating a joint partner program, portal, and process that promotes frictionless partnering. We want to make it easy for our partners to grow with Rocket Software.
2. We plan to simplify and strengthen relationships with our new and current Rocket Partners. Each of our 750 partners will be able to select the route they want to pursue with us, and partners can even choose to work together to serve our mutual customers in their modernization journey.
3. We will enable partners to create Rocket practices within their Core Enterprise modernization practices and ensure they are experts in consulting, solutioning and service delivery of Rocket Software.?

As our President and CEO said, this acquisition gives us the continued flexibility, winning culture, proven partnerships, and growth mindset necessary to help our customers win today and well into the future.

I look forward to helping our partners to take advantage of this unique market opportunity!?