Dell completes ASAP purchase

Dell Inc. has finished acquiring ASAP Software, a provider of software solutions and licensing services provider. The acquisition was announced in August.

Dell wants to strengthen its software business by integrating ASAP's complementary expertise in managing software licensing, purchasing, renewals and compliance. Dell paid about $340 million for ASAP.

ASAP, based in Buffalo Grove, Ill., offers products and services designed to help customers evaluate, acquire and manage information technology assets. Its subsidiary, License Technologies Group, specializes in licensing and e-commerce services for software publishers and their partners. The new organization will operate under the name Dell ASAP Software.

The acquisition is part of a concerted effort by Dell to support IT simplification; that is, to remove cost and complexity and make technology more efficient, manageable and flexible for its government and commercial customers. Dell is rolling out new solutions and making additional acquisitions to support this initiative.

Dell, based in Round Rock, Texas, ranks No. 17 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.