#storyHed {display: block; height: 0; padding: 100px 0 0; margin: 0; background: #FFF url(http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/ne/sr/symantec/symantec_arthed2.jpg) no-repeat; } #lede p {margin: 11px 0;color: #000;} .deck {font-size: 1.1em; color: #000; margin: 4px 0; font-weight:bold;} #evotingPromoshell {margin: 10px 25px 10px 10px; float: right; padding: 0;} #evotingPromo {width: 218px; padding: 5px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; border: 1px solid #999; background: #FFFFEF; } #evotingPromo h4 {display: block; font-size: 1.4em; padding: 0; margin: 0 0 4px; color: #900; } #evotingPromo h5 {display: block; font-size: 1.2em; padding: 0; margin: 8px 0 1px; color: #000; } #evotingPromo dl {margin: 0; padding: 0;} #evotingPromo dt {padding: 4px 0;} #evotingPromo dt .bold {font-weight: bold; color: #555;} #evotingPromo p {margin: 9px 0;} #evotingPromo .underphoto {font-size: .8em;} #evotingPromo .src {font-size: .9em;} 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. Recent Symantec buys 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 Recent Veritas buys January 2004: Ejasent December 2002: Precise Software Solutions and Jareva Technologies Other acquisitions 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 In a sign of continued consolidation in the enterprise software market, security heavyweight Symantec is buying storage specialist Veritas--and creating a new industry giant. John Thompson makes his wager newsmaker CEO talks up the blockbuster acquisition that changes Symantec into a software megapower. December 16, 2004 Competitors expect history's largest software acquisition will be a stumbling block for the new union. December 16, 2004 news analysis The companies are already mapping out new territory and eyeing possible acquisitions. December 16, 2004 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 Ending a bitter battle, PeopleSoft's board approves a deal that reshapes the business software landscape. December 13, 2004 In the flat enterprise software market, the message is clear: It's time to hunt or be hunted. August 16, 2004 Company blames weak U.S. sales for lowered earning expectations, and its stock falls nearly 25 percent. July 6, 2004 Worried about its own database business, Microsoft also pondered investing in PeopleSoft, according to an e-mail from Bill Gates. June 23, 2004 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 The consumer and business security company reports strong earnings and announces agreements to buy three security firms. July 17, 2002