Websense, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBSN) today announced a definitive agreement to
acquire PortAuthority Technologies, Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif., and Ra'anana,
Israel, for approximately US$90 million in cash.
The planned acquisition will bring together two technology and market
leaders in preemptive content security: PortAuthority with its information
leak prevention technology and Websense with its ThreatSeeker(TM) malicious
content identification and categorization technology. The result will be a
new best-of-breed security software company with the capabilities to help
organizations prevent the unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential data
while simultaneously protecting users and data from external malicious
threats.
Through an existing OEM technology alliance established in September of
this year, Websense has been working with PortAuthority to enhance the
Websense(R) Deep Content Control(TM) technology to deliver comprehensive
security solutions that protect users and data from internal and external
threats, both known and emerging.
Combining Websense's ThreatSeeker malicious content identification and
categorization technology with PortAuthority's PreciseID(TM) data
fingerprinting technology into a single integrated offering will allow
organizations to manage how confidential data is permitted to leave an
organization and under what circumstances. With deep knowledge of Internet
destinations, protocols and applications, along with detailed fingerprints of
internal data, Websense Deep Content Control technology will help protect
information flowing through the network, including outbound, internal and
Web-based email; Web postings; instant messaging; file transfers and network
printing. Additionally, both technologies will use an integrated policy
engine to give organizations the unique ability to manage and protect
information by individual user rather than by device or Internet protocol
address.
"Today's high impact security threats aren't about a worm overloading
your mail system. They are about people stealing your proprietary
information," said Gene Hodges, CEO, Websense. "Websense and PortAuthority
are solving this problem today by helping companies prevent Web-based
information theft and internal information leakage."
"Through this planned acquisition, Websense gains not only PortAuthority
technology but the security-savvy engineers that have developed this
industry-leading technology," added Hodges. "Websense is committed to
maintaining PortAuthority's research and development presence in Israel and
retaining the engineering talent responsible for this innovative technology."
The market for data-centric content control is growing. IDC predicts that
this market will grow from US$194.0 million in 2007 to US$434.6 million in
2009, representing a nearly 50 percent compound annual growth rate.(a)
"Websense and PortAuthority provide unique solutions to the information
protection puzzle -- protecting information from the inside and outside,"
said Pete Foley, CEO, PortAuthority. "This acquisition is a natural evolution
for both companies given the synergies between Websense's security software,
research and content classification, and our award-winning information leak
prevention software."
Websense plans to deliver its information leak prevention software
through worldwide channel partners, including those with an existing
relationship with PortAuthority.
The stockholders of PortAuthority have approved the proposed acquisition,
to be effected via a merger between a subsidiary of Websense and
PortAuthority. The closing of the merger is subject to standard closing
conditions and is expected to close in January 2007.
Upon closure of the transaction, Websense will assume the assets and
liabilities of PortAuthority, including approximately US$5 million in working
capital and US$4 million in indebtedness. The transaction is expected to be
dilutive to Websense non-GAAP earnings per share by 10 to 15 cents in 2007
and slightly accretive in 2008. Due to the absence at this time of estimates
of the acquisition-related costs and the allocation of the purchase price
between goodwill, in-process R&D, other intangibles and equity-based
compensation expenses related to SFAS 123R, we are currently unable to
provide GAAP estimates for future earnings.
For more information about PortAuthority Technologies, Inc., visit
www.portauthoritytech.com/.
Conference Call
Websense is hosting a conference call and simultaneous webcast today at
9:00 a.m. EST (6:00 a.m. PST), to discuss the announcement. To participate in
the call, investors should dial +1-888-208-1812 (domestic) or +1-719-457-2654
(international) 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. The
webcast may be accessed via the Internet at www.websense.com/investors. An
audio archive of the webcast will be available on the company's Web site
through Tuesday, January 30, 2007, and a taped replay of the call will be
available for one week at +1-888-203-1112 or +1-719-457-0820, passcode
3161347.
About Websense, Inc.
Websense, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBSN), a global leader in Web security and Web
filtering software, is trusted to protect 24 million employees worldwide.
Websense proactively discovers and immediately protects customers against
Web-based threats such as spyware, phishing attacks, viruses and crimeware
with maximum protection and minimal effort. With diverse partnerships and
integrations, Websense enhances our customers' network and security
environments. For more information, visit www.websense.com.