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2019 Mergers and acquisitions

January

Sophos brings on DarkBytes, Avid
The companies did not release the financial details of the agreement, but Sophos said it plans to use DarkBytes technology as the foundation for new managed detection and response andSecurity Orchestration Automation Response services it plans to offer.

Dan Schiappa, Sophos’ senior vice president and general manager of products, said Secure Avid’s technology will be used to expand the companies capabilities in cloud security.

MAY 

Insight Partners takes a controlling stake in Recorded Future 
The all-cash $780 million deal also saw the private equity firm’s Mike Triplett and Thomas Krane joining Recorded Future’s board of directors. 

Palo Alto acquires Twistlock for $410 million, PurSec 
The two firms entered into a definitive agreement to acquire container security firm Twistlock for $410 million cash. At the same time Palo Alto snatched up PureSec, which specializes in serverless security, for an undisclosed amount. Twistlock co-founders Ben Bernstein and Dima Stopel will join Palo Alto Networks, as will PureSec co-founders Shaked Zin, Ory Segal and Avi Shulman. 

FireEye takes over Verodin for $250 million 
The cash and stock deal took place on May 28. FireEye said in a statement it is interested in the Verodin Security Instrumentation Platform, which is used to validate the effectiveness of cybersecurity controls. 

JUNE 

Cisco enters into an agreement with Sentryo
Cisco revealed plans to acquire the French firm Sentryo on June 6. Cisco’s interest in Sentryo centers on its technology that provides device visibility and security solutions for industrial control system (ICS) networks, which Cisco intends to combine with its intent-based network architecture. 

Elastic picks up Endgame 
Elastic’s deal, which has gained approval from both company boards, has that company paying $234 million in Elastic stock to acquire endpoint protection firm Endgame. 

Imperva acquires Distil Networks 
Imperva acquired Distil Networks with plans to integrate that company’s automated attack mitigation capabilities to help round out Imperva’s product portfolio. Neither company has made the merger’s financial details available nor is it currently known how Imperva will integrate Distil’s staff into its current operation. 

Sophos inks deal to acquire Rook Security 
Sophos acquired the managed detection and response firm Rook Security. The financial details of the deal were not revealed, but Sophos said Rook Security’s skillset will be used so the company can create a re-sellable MDR services by combining Rook Security’s threat detection, investigation and response capabilities with its recently acquired DarkBytes technology platform. 

JULY 

Jamf acquires Mac endpoint solutions firm Digita Security 
The Apple device management company Jamf acquired Digita Security, which specializes in creating enterprise-level endpoint protection solutions for Mac users. The two parties did not release the deal’s financial details. 

AUGUST 

Symantec sells off enterprise business for $10.7 billion 
Symantec sold off its enterprise security business to chipmaker Broadcom for $10.7 billion, however Symantec retained its consumer cyber safety business. The deal, which includes the Symantec brand name, was approved by Symantec’s board of directors and is expected to close before the end of the year, but still must pass standard regulatory approval. 

SEPTEMBER 

HP picks up Bromium 
Hewlett Packard acquired the endpoint security firm Bromium on September 19. The Palo Alto-based HP had been licensing Bromium’s technology and for use in its Sure Click solution. Bromium will become part of HP’s broader platform to secure endpoint devices. The deal’s financial details were not released, nor any information given on how Bromium’s staff will be merged with HP. 

OCTOBER 

Private equity firm bids $3.9 billion for Sophos 
Sophos’ board of directors recommended to its shareholders that they accept a bid of $7.40 per share for the company totaling about $3.9 billion. Thoma Bravo, which has a history of purchasing software companies, said it wants to acquire Sophos to increase its exposure to the large and growing cybersecurity market.

November

OpenText picks up Carbonite for $1.42B
OpenText has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Carbonite for $1.42 billion. The deal has OpenText paying $23 per share in cash for Carbonite. Steve Munford, Interim CEO, President/executive Chairman of the Board of Carbonite, said multiple parties had expressed interest in buying his firm.

Sumo Logic acquires Jask
Sumo Logic has acquired JASK Labs to help bolster its cloud security offering. The company confirmed that the deal has closed, but it is not publicly disclosing the financial details in connection with this acquisition. Sumo Logic named former JASK CEO and co-founder Greg Martin vice president and GM the combined company’s security business unit. ASK’s employees will join Sumo Logic and its Austin, Texas office will be retained.

December

Tenable acquires Indegy for $78 million
Tenable acquired the industrial cybersecurity firm Indegy in a $78 million cash deal. Tenable’s CEO Amit Yoran said the deal interested his firm as bringing in Indegy’s technology and expertise will allow Tenable to deliver  a unified, risk-based view of IT and operational technology security.

Checkpoint acquires Protego
Check Point has acquired the Israeli-start up Protego. Check Point reported it will integrate that company’s serverless security technology into its Infinity architecture that supports networks, mobile, endpoint, IoT and cloud environments. The deal is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2019 and will be integrated into Check Point during the first quarter of 2020. The financial details of the acquisition were not released.

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