Questions remain around what opportunities for partners will emerge from a combined company of virtualization and cloud services provider Citrix Systems and data integration and analysis software developer Tibco.

But even as the details take shape around the $16.5 billion deal by Vista Equity Partners and Elliott Management affiliate Evergreen Coast Capital, a high level source close to the deal told CRN that the plan is to improve Citrix’s channel execution.

“We look at this transaction, we think there is a lot of potential in improving Citrix’s channel engagement,” the executive said.

[RELATED: Citrix Partners: Go-Private Deal Hinges On Restoring ‘Heart Of True Innovation’ ]

More details on a channel partner program for the combined company with new incentives are expected to come soon after the deal closes midyear.

“The job for us is to figure out the best way to go to market with this now larger portfolio of software products,” said the executive. “And I think we‘re going to want to be in position to roll that out relatively quickly.”

Here are five things to know about the Citrix-Tibco deal.