Shearman & Sterling represented Dassault Systèmes (DS) in its acquisition of IBM sales and client support operations encompassing DS's Product Lifecycle Management software application portfolio, as well as customer contracts and related assets, for approximately $600 million in cash.

The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2010, subject to the execution of local agreements and completion of regulatory processes and applicable labor relations requirements in various countries.

The Shearman & Sterling team was led by partner Eliza Swann (New York-M&A) and included partners Doreen Lilienfeld (New York-Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits), Sam Waxman (New York-Intellectual Property), Beau Buffier (New York-Antitrust), John Opar (New York-Property), Hervé Letréguilly (Paris-Capital Markets/M&A) and Niels Dejean (Paris-Tax); counsel Patricia Kuhn (New York-Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits) and Robert LaRussa (Washington, DC-International Trade & Government Relations); and associates Andrew Hope (New York-M&A), Margaret Davidson (New York-M&A), Gloria Jung (New York-Intellectual Property), Molly Stark (New York-Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits), Rodrick Shepard (New York-M&A), Morgan Dann (New York-M&A), Gregory Gewirtz (New York-M&A), Timothy Hanson (New York-M&A), Mindy Lo (New York-Antitrust), Timothy Franklin (New York-Intellectual Property), Shiu-Kay Hung (New York-Tax) and Joseph Collins (New York-Property) and Kelly Karapetyan (New York-Antitrust).