Cisco has agreed to acquire the network security specialist Sourcefire for USD 2.7 billion. Sourcefire's board has approved the offer of USD 76 per share plus a buy-out of outstanding staff equity and retention awards. The acquisition is expected to close during the second half of 2013, subject to regulatory reviews.
Cisco expects the acquisition to be slightly dilutive to its adjusted earnings in fiscal 2014 due to purchase accounting adjustments and integration costs. Upon completion of the transaction Sourcefire employees will join the Cisco Security Group led by Christopher Young.
Sourcefire's products include intrusion prevention systems, firewalls and protection against malware, helping deliver automated security to identify and remediate threats across the network. Sourcefire was founded in 2001 and completed its initial public offering in 2007. The company is based in Maryland and has more than 650 employees worldwide. In 2012, Sourcefire reported revenue of USD 223.1 million, up 35 percent.
