Mcafee to Acquire Stonesoft
Mcafee to Acquire Stonesoft; Transaction to Strengthen
Network Security Portfolio with Next-Generation
Firewall
Pending Acquisition Expected to
Extend the Success of McAfee’s Security Connected
Strategy
SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 5, 2013
– McAfee today announced the execution of a definitive
agreement to initiate a conditional tender offer for the
acquisition of Stonesoft Oyj (NASDAQ OMX Helsinki: SFT1V), a
leading innovator in next-generation network firewall
products, for an aggregate equity value of approximately
$389 million in cash.
Stonesoft delivers software-based, dynamic, customer-driven, cyber security solutions to secure information flow and simplify security management. Stonesoft’s product portfolio of next-generation firewalls, evasion prevention systems, and SSL VPN solutions addresses businesses of all sizes. Through the pending acquisition of Stonesoft, McAfee expects to extend its leadership position in network security.
“With the pending addition of Stonesoft’s products and services, McAfee is making a significant investment in next-generation firewall technology. These solutions anticipate emerging customer needs in a continually evolving threat landscape,” said Michael DeCesare, McAfee President. “Stonesoft is a leading innovator in this important market segment. We plan to integrate Stonesoft’s offerings with other McAfee products to realize the power of McAfee’s Security Connected strategy. Stonesoft products will benefit from the collective expertise of more than 7,200 McAfee employees. Leveraging McAfee’s cloud-based Global Threat Intelligence service will provide our combined customers with unparalleled security.”
The rationale for the
proposed acquisition is as follows:
• Network security
is a vital component of a comprehensive security solution.
Next-generation firewalls solve critical customer needs and
represent one of the fastest growing market segments in
network security.
• Stonesoft is a leading innovator in
the next-generation firewall segment. Gartner positioned the
company as “visionary” in the 2013 Network Security
Firewall Magic Quadrant. Stonesoft achieved “Recommend”
status in NSS Labs’ latest 2013 firewall
tests.
• With Stonesoft, McAfee expects to grow its
network security business by delivering the industry’s
most complete network security solution with three leading
platforms: McAfee’s IPS Network Security Platform,
McAfee’s Firewall Enterprise for the high assurance market
segment, and Stonesoft’s next-generation firewall.
Based in Helsinki, Finland, Stonesoft is trusted by more
than 6,500 customers across the globe. Stonesoft’s
customer base can now benefit from an integrated,
comprehensive security solution through McAfee. Similarly,
McAfee’s extensive, global customer base will benefit from
access to a highly-innovative next-generation firewall.
Stonesoft’s innovative next-generation firewall, when
combined with McAfee’s market leading IPS and high
assurance firewall, provides customers with one of the most
complete network security portfolios in the
industry.
“The combination of the two companies allows
Stonesoft to benefit from McAfee’s global presence and
sales organization of over 2,200 employees, best-in-class
threat research and technology synergies” said Ilkka
Hiidenheimo, Chief Executive Officer of Stonesoft.
“Combined, we believe we can offer our customers a
world-class product portfolio with world-class support –
all backed by
Intel.”
ends