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- Security risks arise from systems that are no longer maintained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 analysable 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 enquiries, 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 across North America, 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 analysable and legally compliant in ViewBox.
As part of M&A processes, we not only take over all data from decommissioned legacy systems but 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 the 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 ViewBox, the reports remain available even years after decommissioning, without the need for original systems, SAP licences or handover issues.
For internal enquiries, 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 standardised 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 licence costs, such as databases, operating systems or archiving solutions
- Reduction of maintenance and infrastructure costs
- Relief for internal resources, which are often reorganised 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.
System Analysis
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 for 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 organisational 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 onwards, 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
The result is 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 authorised parties — such as buyers, auditors or authorities — to access all archived information securely and transparently, 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 can be performed and compliance obligations met without the original system, without additional software licences 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 licence 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 should the original team or internal IT resources no longer be 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 developed specifically 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 the 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.
The software and its underlying cloud infrastructure hold multiple certifications and are regularly subjected to comprehensive security and functionality testing, ensuring maximum reliability in sensitive M&A environments.
Ready for the
Next Step?
In a one-hour expert session, we will analyse 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 analysable.
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.
Book your non-binding, free expert consultation now.
Quick answers to your questions —
personal and without obligation — regarding archiving in M&A processes.
personal and without obligation — regarding archiving in M&A processes.
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