Each acquisition further complemented and enhanced the company’s portfolio of product and services offerings. Aspera’s technology makes cloud computing faster, more predictable and more cost effective for big data transfers such as enterprise storage, sharing virtual images or accessing the cloud for increased computing capacity. The acquisition of Cloudant will extend the company’s mobile and cloud platforms by enabling developers to easily and quickly create next generation mobile and web-based applications. Purchase price consideration for these acquisitions as reflected in the table above, was paid primarily in cash. All acquisitions are reported in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows net of acquired cash and cash equivalents.

The acquisitions were accounted for as business combinations using the acquisition method, and accordingly, the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquired entity was recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The primary items that generated the goodwill are the value of the synergies between the acquired companies and IBM and the acquired assembled work-force, neither of which qualify as an amortizable intangible asset. The overall weighted-average life of the identified amortizable intangible assets acquired is 6.8 years. These identified intangible assets will be amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful lives. Goodwill of $239 million has been assigned to the Software segment. It is expected that none of the goodwill will be deductible for tax purposes.

On April 10, 2014, the company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Silverpop, a privately held company based in Atlanta, GA. Silverpop is a provider of cloud-based capabilities that deliver personalized customer engagements in highly scalable environments. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014.

Divestitures:

On January 23, 2014, IBM and Lenovo Group Limited (Lenovo) announced a definitive agreement in which Lenovo will acquire the company’s x86 server portfolio for $2.3 billion, consisting of approximately $2 billion in cash, with the balance in Lenovo stock. The stock will represent less than 5 percent equity ownership in Lenovo. The company will sell to Lenovo its System x, BladeCenter and Flex System blade servers and switches, x86-based Flex integrated systems, NeXtScale and iDataPlex servers and associated software, blade networking and maintenance operations.

IBM and Lenovo plan to enter into a strategic relationship which will include a global OEM and reseller agreement for sales of IBM’s industry-leading entry and midrange Storwize disk storage systems, tape storage systems, General Parallel File System software, SmartCloud Entry offering, and elements of IBM’s system software, including Systems Director and Platform Computing solutions. Following the closing of the transaction, Lenovo will assume related customer service and maintenance operations. IBM will continue to provide maintenance delivery on Lenovo’s behalf for an extended period of time.

The transaction will be completed as soon as is practical, subject to the satisfaction of regulatory requirements, customary closing conditions and any other required approvals. At March 31, 2014, the company is engaged in the regulatory review process and in the activities necessary to separate the tangible assets in order to close the transaction. The transaction is expected to be completed in phases, with the initial closing expected in the second half of 2014. Subsequent local closings will occur subject to similar conditions, agreements and the information and consultation process in applicable countries.

The company expects to recognize a total pre-tax gain on the sale of approximately $1 billion. This gain will be recognized consistent with the closing schedule for the transaction. The exact amount of the gain and the breakdown by closing date is not yet determinable. The variables that can impact the final gain include the valuation of the final balance sheet transferred, the valuation of other related agreements and transaction-related expenses.

The company’s worldwide x86 business is reported in the Systems and Technology segment, and the associated maintenance operations are part of the Global Technology Services segment. In 2013, this combined business delivered approximately $4.6 billion of revenue, was essentially breakeven on a pre-tax income basis and had approximately $100 million in tangible assets.

On September 10, 2013, IBM and SYNNEX announced a definitive agreement in which SYNNEX will acquire the company’s worldwide customer care business process outsourcing services business for $501 million, consisting of approximately $430 million in cash, net of balance sheet adjustments, and $71 million in SYNNEX stock, which represents less than 5 percent equity ownership in SYNNEX. As part of the transaction, SYNNEX entered into a multi-year agreement with the company, and Concentrix, SYNNEX’s outsourcing business, has become an IBM strategic business partner for global customer care business process outsourcing services.

The transaction is being completed in phases – the initial closing was completed on January 31, 2014, with subsequent closings expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2014, subject to customary closing conditions, local agreements and the information and consultation process in applicable countries. The company expects to recognize a total pre-tax gain on the sale of between $200 million and $225 million. The gain recognized in the first quarter of 2014 was $98 million. The company’s worldwide customer care business process outsourcing services and industry process services was reported in the Global Technology Services segment. In 2013, the divested business delivered approximately $1.3 billion of revenue, approximately $0.1 billion of pre-tax income and had approximately $50 million in tangible assets.

On April 17, 2012, the company announced that it had signed a definitive agreement with Toshiba TEC for the sale of its Retail Store Solutions business. As part of the transaction, the company agreed to transfer the maintenance business to Toshiba TEC within three years of the original closing of the transaction.

In first quarter 2014, the company completed the first phase of the transfer of the maintenance workforce to Toshiba. Subsequent wave closings are scheduled to be completed through the first quarter of 2015 along with associated parts and inventory transfer. The first phase transfer and an assessment of the ongoing contractual terms of the overall transaction resulted in the recognition of an additional pre-tax gain of $34 million in the first quarter of 2014.

The company expects to close the final phase of the divestiture in the first quarter of 2015. Overall, the company expects to recognize a cumulative total pre-tax gain on the sale of approximately $508 million.