Shut down systems but keep the data, even after a merger or acquisition. Sold, acquired, or spun off
– but still subject to retention requirements. With AvenDATA

We archive legacy systems of any kind, regardless of industry, software, or structure.

The Challenge

In the course of an acquisition, merger, or carve-out, former IT systems are often left behind. They are no longer needed but cannot be immediately shut down for legal reasons. Tax and statutory retention obligations require the secure preservation of business-critical data. Typical problems in M&A scenarios include:
Legacy systems must remain in operation even though they are no longer used
  • The IT infrastructure continues to generate ongoing costs
  • Security risks arise from systems that are no longer maintained
  • Data must remain selectively analyzable and accessible
  • The original IT staff is often no longer available
  • Responsibilities and access obligations remain unclear
The Result: AvenDATA takes over the audit-proof archiving of your legacy systems. Your data remains accessible and legally compliant without the need for an active system landscape or internal staff.

Proven Archiving Solution
 with over 17 Years of Project Experience

For more than 17 years, AvenDATA has continuously developed the archiving of legacy systems and refined it through thousands of projects in the context of corporate transactions, whether acquisitions, mergers, or carve-outs.
With our proven methodology, we have reliably and transparently addressed subject-specific questions, requests from tax audits, and legal inquiries, even when IT structures had already been dissolved and the original staff was no longer available.
Our software solution has established itself as a reliable research system that works seamlessly both in auditing practice and for access by new owners, auditors, or tax consultants.
Today, it is used by more than half of all DAX companies, a clear testament to its stability, flexibility, and practical suitability at the highest level.
From Europe to Asia and from North America back again, our archiving solutions are in use worldwide.

Your reports live on
– even after an acquisition, merger, or carve-out

Systems may be retired, but data remains analyzable and legally compliant in the ViewBox.
As part of M&A processes, we not only take over all data from decommissioned legacy systems, we also ensure that this data remains permanently understandable, auditable, and usable.
In concrete terms, this includes:
  • Reconstruction of business-relevant standard reports
  • Implementation of individual reports including company-specific reports and special analyses
  • Archiving of all associated documents such as invoices, orders, and accounting records
Before the project begins we work with you to define which reports will be needed in the future, whether for tax purposes, internal analyses, or legal requirements of the new owner.
With our many years of experience in decommissioning systems in the context of M&A, including complex corporate structures, we ensure that all reports can be provided in a transparent and audit-proof manner.
In the ViewBox the reports remain available even years after decommissioning, without the need for original systems, SAP licenses, or handover issues.
For internal inquiries, external audits, or legal documentation requirements, the reports are always accessible in a structured and comprehensible format.

Fast project execution and significant economic benefits,
– even in the M&A environment

The archiving of a legacy system usually takes between one and six months, depending on complexity and data volume. Especially in the context of acquisitions, mergers, or carve-outs, the fast and structured decommissioning of old IT systems is essential to avoid unnecessary duplicate structures and costs.
With our standardized project methodology, even large systems can be archived efficiently, securely, and completely. We have already successfully transferred systems with more than 30 terabytes of data into our archiving solution, including all relevant reports and documentation.
The advantages are clear: significant savings on license costs such as databases, operating systems, or archiving solutions, reduction of maintenance and infrastructure costs, and relief for internal resources, which are often reorganized or outsourced after a transaction.
In the vast majority of our projects, the return on investment is achieved in less than one year, representing a clear economic benefit for both buyers and sellers.

Project Archiving

Even after an acquisition, merger, or carve-out, a thorough analysis creates clarity.
Before we begin the archiving process, we carry out a detailed analysis of the remaining legacy system. This analysis forms the basis for a reliable assessment of project duration, effort, and costs-regardless of whether internal IT capacities are still available or have already been restructured.
In doing so, we take both technical and business aspects into account, including:
  • Access options to the existing system
  • Type, structure, and size of the database
  • Scope and importance of available reports and evaluations
  • Individual specifics such as special analyses or interfaces
Based on the results, you will receive a binding fixed-price offer from us, ensuring maximum transparency and planning security within the transaction process.

Project Archiving

Once the analysis has been completed, the actual archiving project begins with clearly defined milestones and minimal effort required from all parties involved.
As part of a joint kick-off meeting, we define the technical and organizational framework, often involving several stakeholders such as buyers, sellers, or IT service providers. Our structured approach is designed to ensure efficient execution even under M&A conditions.
From this point onward, we take over the majority of tasks, including:
  • Technical setup and access configuration
  • Export and migration of all data relevant for archiving
  • Reconstruction of relevant reports including company-specific evaluations
  • Comprehensive documentation of all steps to ensure audit compliance
  • Additional tasks as required
Depending on complexity, the project typically takes between one and six months. Our experienced project managers ensure a smooth process, even in cases of limited access rights or when no handover from internal staff is available.
At the end of the project, we carry out structured testing and acceptance phases together with you to ensure that all data has been archived completely, correctly, and transparently. This guarantees that the information is legally compliant, auditable, and usable in the long term.

Result of
the Archiving

Transparent, audit-proof, and proven in M&A scenarios. After completion of the project, all relevant tables, documents, and reports from the decommissioned legacy system are transferred into our proprietary software solution.
Our web-based archiving platform allows authorized parties such as buyers, auditors, or authorities to securely and transparently access all archived information, even years after system decommissioning.
A particular advantage in M&A scenarios is the reconstruction of all business and tax-relevant standard and custom reports, including special reports. This ensures that analyses and compliance obligations can be met without the original system, without additional software licenses, and without complex handover processes.
Once the solution has been successfully implemented and approved, the source system can be completely decommissioned, including the database, operating system, middleware, and license structures.
At the end of the project, all parties involved receive comprehensive project documentation or procedural documentation that transparently reflects all relevant aspects, including:
  • The method of data migration
  • The structure and completeness of the archived content
  • The testing and acceptance phases carried out
  • Additional project-specific details as required
In addition, we document every single project step in an audit-proof manner in our Jira ticket system, from data export to final acceptance or deletion of the legacy system. This ensures that the entire archiving process can be traced at any time, even by third parties, and remains transparent even if the original team or internal IT resources are no longer available.
Software and Research System ViewBOX
– Making data intelligently usable even after M&A transactions
With our web-based archiving solution, AvenDATA provides a powerful reading and research system specifically developed for accessing data from decommissioned legacy systems in the context of acquisitions, carve-outs, or mergers.
Through an intuitive web interface, the system enables fast retrieval, structured analysis, and targeted provision of archived information without the need to access the original source system or face handover conflicts.
The solution ensures that archived data:
  • Remains understandable, complete, and usable independently of the legacy system even after decommissioning
  • Is always available in an audit-proof manner, for example to buyers, auditors, or tax advisors
  • Is structured and accessible for both internal and external audit processes
A key feature for M&A scenarios is the integrated automated data deletion. Based on defined retention periods, data can be deleted in a rule-based and fully documented manner once statutory or internal company requirements have expired. This ensures GDPR and GoBD compliance without additional administrative effort.
The software and its underlying cloud infrastructure are certified multiple times and are regularly subjected to comprehensive security and functionality testing, ensuring maximum reliability in sensitive M&A environments.
The software and its underlying cloud infrastructure are certified multiple times and are regularly subjected to comprehensive security and functionality testing, ensuring maximum reliability in sensitive M&A environments.
Learn more about ViewBox ...
ViewBox – Ihre Brücke
für alle Ihre Legacy-Systeme in die Vergangenheit
Für Fachabteilungen, Steuerprüfer, Wirtschaftsprüfer, interne Controller oder Rechtsabteilungen: Auch nach einer Übernahme, Fusion oder Ausgliederung bleiben Ihre archivierten Daten vollständig erhalten.
Selbst wenn das Ursprungssystem stillgelegt wurde oder der Zugriff eingeschränkt ist, ermöglicht ViewBox den sicheren und nachvollziehbaren Zugriff auf die archivierten Informationen – strukturiert, revisionssicher und jederzeit verfügbar.
So bleiben auch nach M&A-Transaktionen alle relevanten Daten nutzbar – für interne Analysen, steuerliche Prüfungen oder rechtliche Anforderungen.
Ready for the
next step?
In a one-hour expert session, we will analyze your legacy system-whether following an acquisition, merger, or carve-out. We will show you live how to decommission systems efficiently while keeping all data permanently compliant and analyzable, including:
  • In this session you will receive:
  • A structured alignment on data structure, data migration, and reporting scope
  • A live demo of our archiving solution
  • An explanation of how we replicate existing evaluations and custom reports
  • A well-founded assessment of project duration, effort, and costs
  • Additional topics as required
Full transparency from the start:
Our proposals are based on fixed prices, with no hidden costs and no renegotiations. Even without access to the original IT team, we ensure a smooth implementation.
Our proposals are based on fixed prices, with no hidden costs and no renegotiations. Even without access to the original IT team, we ensure a smooth implementation.
Book your non-binding, free expert consultation now.
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Quick Answers to Your Questions –
 Personal and without obligation Regarding
Archiving in M&A Processes

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