Symantec to buy PC Tools

Symantec this week announced plans to acquire PC Tools.

Financial terms have not been released, but the deal is expected to be final by year's end.

With the addition of PC Tools, Symantec hopes to build its consumer product offerings. PC Tools is a worldwide company based in Australia, and offers software products such as Spyware Doctor, Registry Mechanic, PC Tools AntiVirus and Privacy Guardian.

In a statement, Janice Chaffin, Symantec group president of consumer products, said, “By adding PC Tools, we build on the market-leading success of Symantec's consumer offerings and firmly position ourselves for continued incremental growth in a rapidly expanding market."

PC Tools will continue to offer their products under the PC Tools brand, and will maintain its own existing partners and channels.