Big M&A Update: Cisco, Salesforce, Extreme Networks
There was a lot of wheeling and dealing among companies that do business in the channel last month.
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Extreme
Extreme Networks announced plans to buy Aerohive Networks for about $272 million.
Extreme executives said they'll benefit greatly from buying the cloud-managed networking provider. Aerohive will give Extreme about 20,000 new customers as well as an SD-WAN solution.
It's Extreme's fourth acquisition since its 2015 restructuring.
Lynn Haber wrote about the transaction.
Cisco
Cisco announced its intention to buy Sentryo, a provider of device visibility and security solutions.
The companies will combine Sentryo's IoT technology with Cisco's intent-based network architecture to improve cross-department collaboration and improve data protection. Sentryo is a five-year-old company headquartered in France
See a list of Cisco's recent transactions.
Salesforce
The software giant will bulk up its data visualization capabilities with the acquisition of Tableau.
The acquisition helps Salesforce compete against Microsoft's popular PowerBI business intelligence software. Some experts have called Tableau the top independent self-service business intelligence (BI) software company.
The deal is worth about $15.7 billion.
Jeffrey Schwartz covered the story.
Calabrio
The analytics provider bought Teleopti, a Swedish workforce management (WFM) software provider.
The combined company will take the best of each company's workforce management products to create a single platform in the Calabrio One suite. Cablabrio's vice president of strategic platforms said both companies' resellers can access the "broadest cloud offering on the market."
The companies did not disclose the deal's financial details.
Edward Gately has the scoop.
Flexera
Flexera is improving its IT insights and spend optimization by acquiring a SaaS-based analytics platform.
The company bought RISC Networks for an undisclosed sum last month. Flexera executives said the RISC platform decreases the time it takes for companies to migrate to the cloud.
Flexera has bought four companies since 2018.
Learn why RISC was a good fit.
Imperva
The cybersecurity provider plans to buy a bot management provider.
Imperva will improve its application security capabilities by acquiring Distil Networks. Imperva’s global partner marketing and channel communications lead said the companies will combine their partner programs at a yet-to-be-determined time.
Thoma Bravo bought Imperva earlier this year.
Read about why Imperva made the purchase.
VMware
VMware will complete its acquisition of Avi Networks by Aug. 2 and improve its public cloud experience. The virtualization giant said Avi will give its networking and security portfolio a software-defined application delivery controller (ADC).
The financially undisclosed transaction shouldn't impact VMware's fiscal 2020 results, and Avi's CEO said his company's partner base largely overlaps with VMware's.
Get the details.
Insight
It's a deal of "massive channel proportions," T.C. Doyle writes.
An approximately $580 million deal will unite Insight Enterprises with PCM Inc., two publicly traded companies with large North American channel organizations. Insight will improve its managed services division and enhance four key markets, including supply-chain optimization and digital innovation.
PCM scored third on the most recent MSP 501.
Read more analysis from Doyle.
Forescout
Forescout reported cybersecurity risks jeopardized 53% of merger and acquisition plans.
The company's survey reported buyer's remorse in 65% of respondents who finalized a deal. Many respondents said they would have avoided the transaction if they discovered the security risks beforehand.
"Cybersecurity assessments need to play a greater role in M&A due diligence to avoid ‘buying a breach,'" a Forescout executive told Channel Partners.
A PwC report affirmed Forescout's findings.
Pam Baker wrote about the studies.
Forescout
Forescout reported cybersecurity risks jeopardized 53% of merger and acquisition plans.
The company's survey reported buyer's remorse in 65% of respondents who finalized a deal. Many respondents said they would have avoided the transaction if they discovered the security risks beforehand.
"Cybersecurity assessments need to play a greater role in M&A due diligence to avoid ‘buying a breach,'" a Forescout executive told Channel Partners.
A PwC report affirmed Forescout's findings.
Pam Baker wrote about the studies.
VMware and Cisco acquired other companies to fill gaps in their technology portfolios.
VMware enhanced its cloud experience by purchasing a software-defined application delivery controller. Cisco bought a company that will help it secure IoT devices.
The two companies led an ensemble of tech organizations that conducted M&A in the month of June. These companies largely fall into the IT category, although Extreme Networks made waves with a hefty purchase. The list is diverse: Cybersecurity vendors, analytics providers and MSPs are all here.
Will partners benefit or struggle as they integrate into enlarged channel programs? We’ll have to wait and see. Scroll through the nine images below to get caught up on channel M&A.
Missed the previous M&A recap? Check out our May edition, which featured Sprint, Palo Alto and Kaseya.
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