Hot Channel M&A: Verizon, Sophos, NetApp, More

Before COVID-19, it seemed like there was a new merger or acquisition with a channel impact every couple of days. The feeding frenzy was unstoppable, or so we thought. But like just about everything else, M&A activity has slowed considerably since mid-March.

Our recurring recap of channel-related M&A, usually a monthly, is a bimonthly for now. Still, there was activity in March and April worth noting.

Take nexVortex, for instance. Within just a few weeks’ time, it sold its hosted voice business to 4Voice, then the rest of the company to BCM One.

Sophos became the latest Thoma Bravo scoop-up. The security giant is now one of 200 software and technology companies within the private-equity firm’s fold.

The best-known M&A of this group is T-Mobile’s Sprint buy, which reduces the number of major U.S. wireless carriers to three. And now they all have close to the same number of subscribers.

Hey, speaking of wireless companies, Verizon made a big splash in video conferencing. Big Red said it is buying BlueJeans Network, which is in the middle of the battle for work-from-home video subscribers.

Partners who sell Citrix virtual desktop services will be interested to learn about NetApp’s CloudJumper acquisition. NetApp says it’s now all-in in cloud workspaces, which puts it squarely in Citrix’s sights.

But that’s not nearly all. We have compiled 12 of the biggest channel-impacting M&A, whether merger or acquisition, from the past two months. Cruise through our gallery below to read the specific details and to learn how they might affect your favorite partner programs.

Missed the previous M&A gallery? View the edition covering January and February, which featured AT&T, Veeam and more. And don’t forget — you don’t have to wait for these recaps to come around. We have a webpage dedicated to mergers and acquisitions all-year ’round.