Private Equity
Citrix has acquired San Bruno, California-based Sapho, a micro app platform, according to an online Citrix announcement. No financial terms were disclosed. Sapho's backers included Caffeinated Capital.
1 min read · 16 November 2018
Canada's BlackBerry Ltd raised its bets on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity this week with the US$1.4 billion purchase of U.S. machine-learning specialist Cylance, Reuters reported. The Irvine, California-based Cylance uses machine learning to preempt security breaches before they occur. Its applications seek to block malware or infiltration attempts rather than react after a breach. Founded in 2012, Cylance secured more than US$280 million from venture capital funds, according to Refinitiv data. That includes the US$120 million raised earlier this year in a round led by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities.
2 min read · 16 November 2018
BlackBerry Ltd is in talks to buy cybersecurity company Cylance Inc for as much as US$1.5 billion, Reuters reported, citing a Business Insider story. Irvine, California-based Cylance develops artificial intelligence-based products to prevent cyber attacks on companies and recently considered filing for an initial public offering, according to the report. Earlier this year, Cylance raised US$120 million in a financing led by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities. The company's other investors include DFJ, Insight Venture Partners and Khosla Ventures.
1 min read · 12 November 2018
Symantec Corp has acquired Austin, Texas-based and Palo Alto, California-based Javelin Networks, a cybersecurity company. No financial terms were disclosed. Javelin was backed by RSL Capital, Hillsven and UpWest Labs.
3 min read · 08 November 2018
Symantec announced this week it has agreed to acquire San Francisco-based Appthority, a provider of mobile security services. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The VC-backed company was founded in 2011 and raised more than $25 million in total funding from investors, including U.S. Venture Partners, Venrock, Blue Coat Systems and ForgePoint Capital. Appthority was named the “Most Innovative Company” at the RSA Conference’s startup competition in 2012. Co-founders included President Domingo Guerra.
1 min read · 08 November 2018
VMware Inc has agreed to acquire Seattle-based Heptio, which is built to support and advance the open Kubernetes ecosystem. No financial terms were disclosed. Heptio is backed by Madrona Venture Group, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Accel Partners.
4 min read · 06 November 2018
OpenText Corp (TSX, Nasdaq: OTEX) has agreed to acquire Liaison Technologies Inc, an Alpharetta, Georgia-based provider of cloud enterprise application integration and data management solutions. OpenText agreed to pay US$310 million ($407 million) in cash. The deal is expected to close within 90 days. OpenText, a Waterloo-based enterprise information management company, said the acquisition will grow its business network portfolio and expand capabilities in life sciences, healthcare and other verticals. Founded in 2000, Liaison is backed by the venture capital fund of U.S. biopharmaceutical company Merck.
2 min read · 01 November 2018
Revolution Medicines is acquiring Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Warp Drive Bio, an antibiotics developer. No financial terms were disclosed. The deal is expected to close by the end of this month. Warp Drive Bio is backed by Third Rock Ventures, Sanofi and Greylock.
3 min read · 17 October 2018
Roblox has acquired San Mateo, California-based PacketZoom, a mobile networking platform provider, according to a blog post on the former company's site. No financial terms were disclosed. As part of the deal, PacketZoom’s founder and CTO Chetan Ahuja, along with the PacketZoom engineering team, will join Roblox. PacketZoom was backed by Baseline Ventures, First Round Capital, Tandem Capital and Arafura Ventures.
1 min read · 12 October 2018
Palo Alto Networks has agreed to acquire RedLock Inc, a cybersecurity company, for about $173 million. RedLock's backers included Sierra Ventures, Storm Ventures and Dell Technologies Capital.
3 min read · 03 October 2018
