Symantec's big bid for clout
The security company is buying storage specialist Veritas. Will the deal create a new industry giant?
Securing the market
Traditional security companies are branching out, while networking and technology companies are picking up security to broaden their reach.
John Thompson,
CEO, Symantec
Quick facts on the merger
Total value: $13.5 billion
Combined revenue:
$5 billion
Combined staff: 13,000 employees
By comparison: Oracle bought PeopleSoft this week for $10 billion
Main focuses: Symantec is the largest maker of PC security and antivirus software. Veritas is No. 2 in the storage software market.
Rivals: The combined company will be up against, among others, storage top dog EMC; IBM in software, hardware and services; Cisco and Juniper in network security; security specialists McAfee and Check Point; and Microsoft, as that giant edges into antivirus and antispyware activities.
- September 2004: @stake
- July 2004: TurnTide
- May 2004: Brightmail
- October 2003: On Technology
- October 2003: SafeWeb
- September 2003: PowerQuest
- July 2002: Recourse Technologies, Riptech and SecurityFocus
- January 2004: Ejasent
- December 2002: Precise Software Solutions and Jareva Technologies
- December 2004: Cisco buys BCN Systems
- December 2004: Microsoft buys Giant Company Software
- November 2004: Cisco buys Jahi Networks
- October 2004: Cisco buys Perfigo
- February 2004: Juniper buys NetScreen Technologies
- December 2003: Check Point buys Zone Labs
- June 2003: Microsoft buys GeCad
Recent Symantec buys
Recent Veritas buys
Other acquisitions
John Thompson makes his wager
newsmaker CEO talks up the blockbuster acquisition that changes Symantec into a software megapower.December 16, 2004
Rivals hope for the worst
Competitors expect history's largest software acquisition will be a stumbling block for the new union.December 16, 2004
Bulked-up Symantec seeks new conquests
news analysis The companies are already mapping out new territory and eyeing possible acquisitions.December 16, 2004
Symantec to buy Veritas for $13.5 billion
Deal is the latest sign of consolidation in the enterprise software market and the second major acquisition this week.December 16, 2004
Symantec's big step up
perspective CNET News.com's Charles Cooper says the blockbuster deal puts CEO Thompson on the map as a bona fide big shot.December 16, 2004
The days of consolidation
commentary Oracle buys PeopleSoft. Symantec buys Veritas. Microsoft buys antispyware tools. So much for this week. We're entering a phase in which a few companies will rule enterprise computing. For IT buyers, the rampant consolidation has a good side (fewer integration headaches) and a bad side (fewer choices).December 16, 2004
related coverage
Oracle buys PeopleSoft for $10 billion
Ending a bitter battle, PeopleSoft's board approves a deal that reshapes the business software landscape.December 13, 2004
Survival of software's fittest
In the flat enterprise software market, the message is clear: It's time to hunt or be hunted.August 16, 2004
Veritas to miss earnings mark
Company blames weak U.S. sales for lowered earning expectations, and its stock falls nearly 25 percent.July 6, 2004
Microsoft-SAP talks rooted in database concern
Worried about its own database business, Microsoft also pondered investing in PeopleSoft, according to an e-mail from Bill Gates.June 23, 2004
The black lining to Symantec's silver cloud
CEO John Thompson has tried to make the security software company less dependent on the volatile consumer market and more reliant on stable corporate revenue.April 27, 2004
Symantec doing fine by security
The consumer and business security company reports strong earnings and announces agreements to buy three security firms.July 17, 2002
Securing the market
Traditional security companies are branching out, while networking and technology companies are picking up security to broaden their reach.
John Thompson,
CEO, Symantec
Quick facts on the merger
Total value: $13.5 billion
Combined revenue:
$5 billion
Combined staff: 13,000 employees
By comparison: Oracle bought PeopleSoft this week for $10 billion
Main focuses: Symantec is the largest maker of PC security and antivirus software. Veritas is No. 2 in the storage software market.
Rivals: The combined company will be up against, among others, storage top dog EMC; IBM in software, hardware and services; Cisco and Juniper in network security; security specialists McAfee and Check Point; and Microsoft, as that giant edges into antivirus and antispyware activities.
- September 2004: @stake
- July 2004: TurnTide
- May 2004: Brightmail
- October 2003: On Technology
- October 2003: SafeWeb
- September 2003: PowerQuest
- July 2002: Recourse Technologies, Riptech and SecurityFocus
- January 2004: Ejasent
- December 2002: Precise Software Solutions and Jareva Technologies
- December 2004: Cisco buys BCN Systems
- December 2004: Microsoft buys Giant Company Software
- November 2004: Cisco buys Jahi Networks
- October 2004: Cisco buys Perfigo
- February 2004: Juniper buys NetScreen Technologies
- December 2003: Check Point buys Zone Labs
- June 2003: Microsoft buys GeCad
Recent Symantec buys
Recent Veritas buys
Other acquisitions
John Thompson makes his wager
newsmaker CEO talks up the blockbuster acquisition that changes Symantec into a software megapower.December 16, 2004
Rivals hope for the worst
Competitors expect history's largest software acquisition will be a stumbling block for the new union.December 16, 2004
Bulked-up Symantec seeks new conquests
news analysis The companies are already mapping out new territory and eyeing possible acquisitions.December 16, 2004
Symantec to buy Veritas for $13.5 billion
Deal is the latest sign of consolidation in the enterprise software market and the second major acquisition this week.December 16, 2004
Symantec's big step up
perspective CNET News.com's Charles Cooper says the blockbuster deal puts CEO Thompson on the map as a bona fide big shot.December 16, 2004
The days of consolidation
commentary Oracle buys PeopleSoft. Symantec buys Veritas. Microsoft buys antispyware tools. So much for this week. We're entering a phase in which a few companies will rule enterprise computing. For IT buyers, the rampant consolidation has a good side (fewer integration headaches) and a bad side (fewer choices).December 16, 2004
related coverage
Oracle buys PeopleSoft for $10 billion
Ending a bitter battle, PeopleSoft's board approves a deal that reshapes the business software landscape.December 13, 2004
Survival of software's fittest
In the flat enterprise software market, the message is clear: It's time to hunt or be hunted.August 16, 2004
Veritas to miss earnings mark
Company blames weak U.S. sales for lowered earning expectations, and its stock falls nearly 25 percent.July 6, 2004
Microsoft-SAP talks rooted in database concern
Worried about its own database business, Microsoft also pondered investing in PeopleSoft, according to an e-mail from Bill Gates.June 23, 2004
The black lining to Symantec's silver cloud
CEO John Thompson has tried to make the security software company less dependent on the volatile consumer market and more reliant on stable corporate revenue.April 27, 2004
Symantec doing fine by security
The consumer and business security company reports strong earnings and announces agreements to buy three security firms.July 17, 2002