FatWire

FatWire Software was an American enterprise software company focused on web content management (WCM), digital experiences, and related web experience management capabilities. Established in 1996 by Mark Fasciano, Ari Kahn, and John Murcott, the company operated in the enterprise information-technology market, where organizations used its software to create, manage, publish, and personalize content across websites and other digital channels. The company developed its business during a period when large organizations were replacing manually maintained websites with centralized content-management platforms. FatWire's products were intended to separate content creation from website implementation, allowing business users and marketing teams to manage pages and digital assets while technology teams maintained the underlying infrastructure and delivery environment. Its software was used in settings that required structured publishing workflows, multiple websites, localization, permissions, and integration with other enterprise systems. A significant step in FatWire's expansion came in 2003, when it acquired Open Market's enterprise web content management assets, including Content Server, from divine. The assets originated with FutureTense, an earlier content-management company, and gave FatWire a more established enterprise product foundation. FatWire subsequently developed and marketed Content Server as a central component of its software portfolio. Content Server 6.0, launched in 2004, represented a major product-generation milestone for the company. In 2007, Yogesh Gupta became president and chief executive officer. During the same year, FatWire acquired Infostoria and introduced a broader strategy centered on Web Experience Management (WEM). This reflected a market shift from basic website publishing toward coordinated management of content, digital assets, customer interactions, and personalized online experiences. FatWire positioned its technology as a platform for enterprises seeking to deliver more targeted and consistent experiences across digital properties. FatWire also expanded through technology and channel relationships. In 2010, it announced a partnership with EMC Corporation under which EMC would resell FatWire products as its strategic Web Experience Management solution. In connection with the arrangement, FatWire acquired rights to resell EMC's digital asset management software. The relationship linked FatWire's WCM capabilities with EMC's enterprise storage and digital-asset technologies and increased FatWire's visibility in the enterprise software market. Oracle announced an agreement to acquire FatWire Software on June 21, 2011. Oracle completed the purchase in July 2011 for a reported $163 million. Following the acquisition, FatWire's products were incorporated into Oracle's WebCenter portfolio. In February 2012, Oracle released WebCenter 11g Release 1, which included WebCenter Sites, the new name for FatWire Content Server. FatWire therefore ceased to operate as an independent brand, while its technology continued within Oracle's enterprise digital-experience and content-management product lines. Before the acquisition, FatWire was a private company rather than a separately listed public issuer. Its 2009 revenue was estimated at approximately $40 million by Real Story Group, but this figure was an external estimate rather than a company-reported public filing. FatWire's independent history is consequently best understood as the development and commercialization of enterprise web content-management software, followed by its absorption into Oracle's WebCenter business.

FatWire Software was founded in 1996 by Mark Fasciano, Ari Kahn, and John Murcott as an independent enterprise software company serving the emerging web content management market. Its products addressed the needs of organizations that wanted centralized control over website content, publishing processes, permissions, and the operation of multiple digital properties. The company's development accelerated in 2003 when it acquired Open Market's enterprise web content management assets, including Content Server, from divine. Those assets had roots in FutureTense and gave FatWire an established enterprise CMS platform around which it could build its commercial offering. FatWire released Content Server 6.0 in 2004, maintaining its focus on enterprise-grade web publishing and content administration. In August 2007, Yogesh Gupta was appointed president and CEO. FatWire acquired Infostoria in October of that year and introduced a Web Experience Management strategy in November. The strategy reflected the industry's movement toward broader digital experience platforms that combined content management with personalization, digital assets, and coordinated online customer interactions. FatWire pursued a significant commercial partnership with EMC in 2010. EMC agreed to resell FatWire's products as its strategic Web Experience Management solution, while FatWire acquired rights to resell EMC's digital asset management software. This arrangement connected FatWire's web content capabilities with EMC's enterprise digital-asset technology. Oracle announced its acquisition of FatWire on June 21, 2011, and completed the purchase in July for a reported $163 million. FatWire subsequently ceased to function as a standalone company and its products were folded into Oracle's WebCenter business. Oracle WebCenter 11gR1, released in February 2012, incorporated the former FatWire Content Server under the name WebCenter Sites. The FatWire brand therefore ended as an independent enterprise software brand, although its technology continued under Oracle.

1. 2012FatWire Content Server becomes WebCenter Sites

   Oracle releases WebCenter 11gR1 incorporating the former FatWire Content Server under the WebCenter Sites name.

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2. 2011Oracle acquisition announced and completed

   Oracle announces the acquisition in June and purchases FatWire in July for a reported $163 million.

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3. 2010EMC partnership announced

   EMC agrees to resell FatWire's products, while FatWire gains rights to resell EMC digital asset management software.

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4. 2007Leadership and portfolio expansion

   Yogesh Gupta becomes president and CEO, FatWire acquires Infostoria, and the company introduces its Web Experience Management strategy.

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5. 2004Content Server 6.0 launched

   FatWire launches version 6.0 of its web content management software.

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6. 2003Open Market assets acquired

   FatWire acquires Open Market's enterprise web content management assets, including Content Server, from divine.

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7. 1996FatWire is established

   Mark Fasciano, Ari Kahn, and John Murcott establish FatWire Software as an enterprise web content management company.

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Enterprise software for centralized web content management and coordinated digital experiences, aimed primarily at organizations operating complex, high-volume, or multi-site web estates.

• Content ServerWeb content management2003

  FatWire's principal enterprise web content management platform. Content Server supported centralized creation, organization, workflow, and publication of website content for organizations managing complex digital properties. The product became particularly important after FatWire acquired Open Market's enterprise WCM assets in 2003. After Oracle's acquisition, it was renamed WebCenter Sites.

• Content Server 6.0Web content management2004

  A major version of FatWire's Content Server web content management software released in 2004. It represented the company's continued development of an enterprise CMS platform for structured web publishing and organizational content operations.

• Web Experience ManagementDigital experience management2007

  FatWire's broader strategic product direction introduced in 2007. Web Experience Management extended the company's positioning beyond basic website content administration toward coordinated digital experiences, including content delivery, personalization, and integration with digital asset capabilities.

• 2011Sell the company to OracleM&A

  Oracle was expanding its enterprise software portfolio and sought web content and digital experience capabilities.

  What changed. Oracle announced the acquisition in June 2011 and completed the purchase in July for a reported $163 million.

  Aftermath. FatWire ceased to operate as an independent company, and its products were incorporated into Oracle WebCenter.

  Reported acquisition price. $163 million (July 2011)

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• 2010Partner with EMC on Web Experience ManagementStrategy

  FatWire pursued distribution and technology relationships to expand its enterprise reach and complement web content management with digital asset management.

  What changed. EMC agreed to resell FatWire products, while FatWire obtained rights to resell EMC's digital asset management software.

  Aftermath. The partnership strengthened FatWire's enterprise positioning and connected its WEM offering with EMC's digital asset capabilities.

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• 2007Adopt a Web Experience Management strategyStrategy

  The enterprise software market was expanding from traditional website publishing toward broader digital experience management.

  What changed. FatWire announced a Web Experience Management strategy and expanded its portfolio through the acquisition of Infostoria.

  Aftermath. FatWire positioned itself as a broader digital experience vendor rather than solely as a conventional web CMS supplier.

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• 2003Acquire Open Market enterprise WCM assetsM&A

  FatWire sought to strengthen its enterprise content management portfolio and acquired Open Market's enterprise web content management assets, including Content Server, from divine.

  What changed. FatWire integrated the acquired technology and marketed Content Server as a core part of its product portfolio.

  Aftermath. The transaction provided the product foundation that later evolved into FatWire's principal CMS offering and, after the Oracle acquisition, WebCenter Sites.

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• 2012Oracle incorporates FatWire technology into WebCenter

  Oracle released WebCenter 11gR1 with WebCenter Sites, the renamed successor to FatWire Content Server, completing the principal product-brand transition after the acquisition.

  Product generation
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• 2011Oracle announces acquisition of FatWire Software

  Oracle announced that it would acquire FatWire Software, bringing the privately held web content management company into Oracle's enterprise software portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2010EMC partners with FatWire for Web Experience Management

  EMC agreed to resell FatWire's products as its strategic Web Experience Management solution. FatWire also obtained rights to resell EMC's digital asset management software.

  Other
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• 2007Yogesh Gupta becomes FatWire president and CEO

  Yogesh Gupta was named president and chief executive officer as FatWire expanded its enterprise software strategy.

  Leadership change
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• 2007FatWire acquires Infostoria

  FatWire acquired Infostoria as part of its effort to broaden its capabilities and support its Web Experience Management strategy.

  M&A
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• 2007FatWire introduces its Web Experience Management strategy

  FatWire presented a Web Experience Management strategy that extended beyond conventional web publishing toward broader management of digital experiences.

  Product launch
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• 2004FatWire launches Content Server 6.0

  FatWire introduced version 6.0 of its web content management software, marking a major product-generation update in its enterprise CMS portfolio.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2003FatWire acquires Open Market enterprise web content management assets

  FatWire acquired enterprise web content management assets, including Content Server, from divine's Open Market business. The transaction strengthened FatWire's product base and connected it with technology originating from FutureTense.

  M&A
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1. FatWire