VMware to Acquire Nicira

VMware News Releases

VMware to Acquire Nicira

Acquisition expands VMware’s networking portfolio to revolutionize networking for the cloud and provide a full suite of capabilities for any cloud environment.

PALO ALTO, Calif., July 23, 2012 – VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), the global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Nicira, Inc., a pioneer in software-defined networking (SDN) and a leader in network virtualization for open source initiatives.

“VMware has led the server virtualization revolution, and we have the opportunity to do the same in datacenter and cloud networking,” said Paul Maritz, chief executive officer, VMware.  “The acquisition of Nicira adds to our portfolio of networking assets and positions VMware to be the industry leader in software-defined networking.”

VMware will acquire Nicira for approximately $1.05 billion in cash plus approximately $210 million of assumed unvested equity awards. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.  The parties expect the acquisition to close during the second half of 2012.  The acquisition has been approved by the boards of directors of both VMware and Nicira and the stockholders of Nicira.

The Software-Defined Datacenter – The Foundation of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is about agile, elastic, efficient, and reliable services, and it is achieved through sophisticated software that abstracts hardware resources, pools it into aggregate capacity, enabling automation to safely and efficiently dole it out as needed for applications. Tenants or customers utilizing the software-defined datacenter can have their own virtual datacenter with an isolated collection of all the compute, storage, networking, and security resources that they are used to. Furthermore, this virtual datacenter can grow and shrink to efficiently utilize physical resources.  This is what the software-defined datacenter is all about, and it is the architecture for the cloud.

Managing networks and network services to support cloud architectures is complex, time consuming and limits the achievement of full application mobility across clouds.  Nicira is at the forefront of software-defined networking, which enables the dynamic creation of virtual network infrastructure and services that are completely decoupled and independent from the physical network hardware.  Many industry leaders, including AT&T, DreamHost, eBay, Fidelity Investments, NTT and Rackspace are using the Nicira Network Virtualization Platform (NVP) to accelerate service delivery from weeks to minutes and dramatically reduce complexity and cost.  

“Nicira helps customers dramatically improve business velocity and efficiency by transforming how networking works in the Cloud era,” said Steve Mullaney, chief executive officer, Nicira.  “I’m thrilled to be joining forces with VMware to help build the software-defined datacenter.” 

“The value we bring to customers lies in our open approach and the richness of capabilities in network virtualization,” said Martin Casado, co-founder and chief technology officer, Nicira.  “The combination of Nicira and VMware brings together two pioneering teams, and gives customers the industry leading SDN solution for any cloud environment, on any hypervisor in the enterprise and with Service Providers.”

VMware plans to continue to support the open principles and technologies that have made Nicira solutions successful, including the Open vSwitch to connect physical networks and multiple hypervisors and the open extensibility framework to implement business-level policies from any cloud management system.  This will allow enterprises and service providers to create the most flexible network topologies that seamlessly span any cloud environment.  VMware is committed to maintaining Nicira’s openness and bringing additional value and choices to heterogeneous environments and the OpenStack, CloudStack and other cloud related communities.

This acquisition expands VMware’s networking portfolio, which includes the VMware vSphere® virtual switching, VMware vCloud® Director™ networking, vShield™ Network and Security software defined services, and the VXLAN protocol to provide a full suite of software-defined networking capabilities  and a comprehensive solution lineup for virtualizing the network – from virtual switching to virtualized layer 3-7 services.  This will allow customers to create a pool of network capacity on top of any network infrastructure from which they can easily support tens of thousands of isolated virtual networks with the simplicity and operational ease of creating and managing virtual machines

VMware and industry leaders will be showcasing the software-defined datacenter at the upcoming VMworld® 2012 in San Francisco on August 27 – August 30.  Information on attending the conference can be found here.

Additional Resources

• VMware’s Steve Herrod blog here
• Nicira’s Martin Casado blog here
• Connect with VMware on Twitter and Facebook

About VMware
VMware is the leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure solutions that enable businesses to thrive in the Cloud Era. Customers rely on VMware to help them transform the way they build, deliver and consume Information Technology resources in a manner that is evolutionary and based on their specific needs. With 2011 revenues of $3.77 billion, VMware has more than 350,000 customers and 50,000 partners. The company is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the world and can be found online at www.vmware.com.
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Microsoft to Acquire Perceptive Pixel Inc.

Press release:

Microsoft to Acquire Perceptive Pixel Inc.

July 09, 2012

Perceptive Pixel’s large-scale, multi-touch hardware and software technology will unlock new collaboration and productivity scenarios.

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REDMOND, Wash., and NEW YORK — July 9, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. and Perceptive Pixel Inc. (PPI) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire PPI, a recognized leader in research, development and production of large-scale, multi-touch display solutions.

“The acquisition of PPI allows us to draw on our complementary strengths, and we’re excited to accelerate this market evolution,” said Kurt DelBene, president, Office Division for Microsoft. “PPI’s large touch displays, when combined with hardware from our OEMs, will become powerful Windows 8-based PCs and open new possibilities for productivity and collaboration.”

Founded in 2006 by Jeff Han, a renowned pioneer in multi-touch technology, PPI shipped its first multi-touch workstation and large wall solutions in early 2007. In 2008 its technology gained widespread recognition for transforming the way CNN and other broadcasters covered the 2008 U.S. presidential election. In 2009 the Smithsonian awarded the company the National Design Award in the inaugural category of Interaction Design. PPI’s patented technologies are used across a wide variety of industries such as government, defense, broadcast, energy exploration, engineering and higher education, and its expertise in both software and hardware will contribute to success in broad scenarios such as collaboration, meetings and presentations.

“We are incredibly excited to be working together on our mutual passion to build technologies that enable people to collaborate and communicate,” Han said. “By joining Microsoft, we will be able to take advantage of the tremendous momentum of the Microsoft Office Division, tightly interoperate with its products, and deliver this technology to a very broad set of customers.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.

About Perceptive Pixel Inc.

Perceptive Pixel Inc. (PPI) is a recognized leader in interaction design, having pioneered the development of large-scale, unlimited multi-touch devices that came to prominence during the historic 2008 U.S. presidential elections. PPI’s advanced multi-touch technology platform enables professionals to get closer to their content, removing barriers to understanding, communication and collaboration. PPI is privately held and headquartered in New York. For more information, visit www.perceptivepixel.com.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Press release:

IBM Completes Acquisition of Varicent Software

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ARMONK, N.Y. - 23 May 2012: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced it has completed the acquisition of Varicent Software Incorporated, a leading provider of analytics software for compensation and sales performance management.  Financial terms will not be disclosed.

Varicent's software automates and analyzes data across sales, finance, human resources and IT departments to uncover trends and improve sales performance and operations. The acquisition enhances IBM's Smarter Analytics capabilities across line of business operations in all industries.

"Varicent advances IBM’s efforts to deliver analytics directly into the hands of front line employees, helping them uncover new ways to remain competitive and stay ahead of increasing demand,” said Les Rechan, IBM General Manager, Business Analytics. "The combination of Varicent’s software and IBM's deep analytics expertise delivers a comprehensive approach to managing sales performance, allowing clients to make more informed decisions faster."

Varicent software allows companies across a variety of industries including banking, telecommunications, insurance and retail to facilitate and streamline quota planning, compensation, sales assignments and managing quotas and insights into sales activities.  The software is unique, taking what is traditionally a very labor intensive process, and automates and integrates all aspects of sales, client and financial performance management across the enterprise.

Varicent software, combined with IBM's prior acquisitions in business analytics including Algorithmics, Clarity Systems, OpenPages and Cognos, and recent investments in predictive analytics such as SPSS, will provide clients with a broad range of business analytics solutions. These acquisitions are part of IBM's larger focus on analytics, which spans hardware, software, services and research.

The news supports IBM's long-term growth strategy to expand the company’s business analytics and optimization software and services capabilities, an area of IBM's business that is expected to reach $16 billion in revenue by 2015.

Varicent is headquartered in Toronto, Canada with additional operations in North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific. Varicent has more than 180 customers using its software, including Starwood Hotels, Covidien, Dex One, Manpower, Hertz, Office Depot and Farmers. Consistent with its acquisition strategy, IBM will continue to support Varicent clients while allowing them to take advantage of the broader IBM portfolio.

With the closing of this acquisition, approximately 200 Varicent employees will join IBM's Software Group.

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EMC Press Release

EMC Acquires Syncplicity

Contacts

David De Jear (925) 600-6790 david.dejear@emc.com

EMC World 2012, LAS VEGAS—May 21, 2012

News Highlights: 

• EMC acquires Syncplicity, Inc., privately-held, next-generation, cloud-based synch and share file management provider
• Syncplicity delivers enterprise capabilities unlike consumer-focused competitors
• EMC further enables the enterprise to balance productivity for the users and governance for IT
• Financial terms were not disclosed

Full Story

At EMC World 2012, EMC ® (NYSE:EMC) today announced that it has acquired privately held Syncplicity, Inc., a leader in cloud-based file management solutions. Based in Menlo Park, California, Syncplicity provides native cloud-based sync and share capabilities required by enterprise customers. Enterprise sync and share solutions are increasingly required by companies in response to the proliferation of mobile, social and cloud computing. Terms of the transaction were not released.

Unlike competitive offerings geared for consumers, Syncplicity solutions were built for the enterprise, enabling users to interact and share content on their device of choice with the security and governance IT requires. The company's solutions help organizations manage, sync, share and backup files across its' extended enterprise, providing the tools they need to maximize productivity, protect their corporate data, and reduce infrastructure and support costs.

Integrating Syncplicity with the Information Intelligence Group portfolio provides a compelling opportunity for organizations, leveraging EMC's rich heritage in enterprise content management, information governance solutions and cloud storage, thousands of enterprise customers who rely on its technology to run their businesses and EMC's strong go-to-market channel. The addition of Syncplicity also extends EMC's strategy of enabling the ‘New User' in the Post PC era, those who want to access, share, collaborate and participate in business processes on their preferred device.

EMC Executive Quote:

Rick Devenuti, President, Information Intelligence Group, EMC

"It's our core belief that productivity and security are not mutually exclusive. In acquiring Syncplicity, we validate this concept by uniting enterprise ‘sync and share' capabilities for the cloud with governance and rigor that is synonymous with Documentum ® . As cloud, social and mobile dominate the way work gets done, our customers require more than simple containers for managing and sharing content. With Syncplicity, we will deliver best-in-class solutions for true extended enterprise collaboration."   

The Information Intelligence Group division of EMC is focused on four key strategic priorities for customer success – delighting the "New User" of the Post PC era with a compelling, fast and modern user experience across a variety of end-point devices; accelerating our customers' journey to the cloud; delivering pervasive governance to protect information wherever it exists, and helping our customers transform their business with high value solutions.

Additional Resources

• Stay connected with Momentum on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn
• Join the EMC Documentum communities on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, SlideShare, the EMC Community Network

About EMC

EMC Corporation is a global leader in enabling businesses and service providers to transform their operations and deliver IT as a service. Fundamental to this transformation is cloud computing.  Through innovative products and services, EMC accelerates the journey to cloud computing, helping IT departments to store, manage, protect and analyze their most valuable asset — information — in a more agile, trusted and cost-efficient way. Additional information about EMC can be found atwww.EMC.com.

Press release:

Dell Completes Acquisition of IT Security Leader SonicWALL

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Date : 5/9/2012

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• Dell SonicWALL enables customers to simplify and maintain effective IT security
• Acquisition further expands Dell’s security software and solutions portfolio to include a wide range of enterprise and SMB offerings
• Dell SonicWALL partner program broadens opportunities for channel members with more technology solutions and services

Dell today announced it has finalized its acquisition of SonicWALL, Inc., a leader in advanced network security, secure remote access, email security, backup and recovery, and management and reporting. The SonicWALL acquisition expands Dell’s security software and services portfolio. Dell expects the transaction to be accretive to earnings on a non-GAAP basis in the second half of this year.

Dell has taken significant steps over the past three years to develop its software and services portfolio to empower customers to create a competitive advantage with cloud computing, consumerization of the enterprise and the increasing demands for secure, anytime, anywhere access to applications and data. Customers and channel partners will benefit from an expanded Dell security solutions portfolio, which includes security services, cloud security solutions, data encryption solutions and vulnerability and patch management. 

Dell SonicWALL offers comprehensive security solutions that combine advanced capabilities with ease of use, and makes security a business enabler, not a business barrier. It offers its customers Next-Generation Firewalls and Unified Threat Management (UTM) Firewalls that help drive network efficiency, employee productivity and enables secure collaboration with partners and service providers. 

Quotes “Customers who are looking for simplified and comprehensive security solutions will benefit from the addition of SonicWALL to our software portfolio,” said John Swainson, president, Dell Software Group. “The combination of SonicWALL with Dell’s existing security offerings and broad market reach will help customers securely manage their data, securely manage consumer devices being brought into their enterprise, and securely expand their applications to the cloud.”

“This combination provides SonicWALL with great growth opportunities for our security offerings,” said Matt Medeiros, president and CEO, SonicWALL. “We believe that taking this step with Dell is a logical progression for our business. The new Dell SonicWALL will offer customers security and channel advantages beyond anything currently available.”

"Western NRG views Dell's acquisition as perhaps the biggest compliment SonicWALL could ever get. With the recent success and unveiling of the SuperMassive product, SonicWALL is making a big splash in the enterprise space and we think Dell was very quick to both recognize and capitalize on it,” said Timothy A Martinez, president, Western NRG, Inc. “They acquired SonicWALL for three good reasons: SonicWALL's people, technology and its revenue stream. These have a huge value today and will have an even greater value in the future. We look for Dell to catapult both SonicWALL and the Channel to levels we've only previously imagined."

"To guarantee a superior student experience, we constantly need to securely enable new business initiatives, simplify and reduce the complexity in our network. SonicWALL's network security solutions give us the performance and visibility to make better informed business decisions,” said Greg Brenner, CIO, Ross Education, LLC. “They help us make security a business enabler, not a business barrier and are a great match for a wide range of security requirements. We believe that Dell's acquisition of SonicWALL will continue and expand on its tradition of comprehensive industry-leading security solutions."

"The acquisition of SonicWALL gives Dell immediate access to network security and secure remote access solutions that align well with Dell’s strategic objectives in both the SMB and enterprise markets. This will allow Dell to significantly expand its concept of secure networking and offering its customers solutions to cover a broad range of deployment scenarios," said Scott Crawford, research director at Enterprise Management Associates. "We expect SonicWALL's mature technology and their unique channel partner ecosystem to integrate very well with Dell's software and networking vision, while SonicWALL’s investment in enterprise technology may well become a disruptor in that market."

About SonicWALLGuided by its vision of Dynamic Security for the Global Network, SonicWALL develops advanced intelligent network security and data protection solutions that adapt as organizations grow and as threats evolve. Trusted by large and small enterprises worldwide, SonicWALL solutions are designed to detect and control applications and protect networks from intrusions and malware attacks through award-winning hardware, software and virtual appliance-based solutions.

About DellDell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers worldwide innovative technology, business solutions and services they trust and value. For more information, visit www.dell.com.

Synopsys Acquires RSoft Design Group

Press release:

Synopsys Acquires RSoft Design Group

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP used in the design, verification and manufacture of electronic components and systems, today announced it has completed the acquisition of privately held RSoft Design Group, Inc. (RSoft), a leading provider of photonics design and simulation software headquartered in Ossining, New York. The combination of Synopsys' imaging and illumination design products with RSoft's photonics design products extends Synopsys' platform to provide a more complete set of optical solutions to current customers, as well as to support new technologies, applications and markets as they emerge. The acquisition is a natural extension of Synopsys' entry into the optics market that started in 2010 with the acquisition of Optical Research Associates (ORA®).  The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
"Synopsys' strategy is two-fold: continued leadership in EDA while expanding our total addressable market into adjacent technologies, including optical design. The addition of RSoft's products expands Synopsys' solutions in both the optical and adjacent photonic markets," said Howard Ko, senior vice president and general manager of Synopsys' Silicon Engineering Group. "RSoft's products also complement our TCAD Sentaurus portfolio by providing a number of capabilities that allow us to extend our offering into other photonic areas such as optical waveguide modeling. This and many other capabilities will create strong synergies with Synopsys technology that will help us enable new opportunities with key customers."
RSoft's software is used to design and optimize optical telecommunications components, as well as in the design and simulation of complete optical telecommunication systems and networks. In semiconductor manufacturing, RSoft's software is used to design and optimize nanolithography components to enable faster and lower-power processors. RSoft's software can also be used to accurately model nano-scale optical structures that enhance the light extraction efficiency of applications such as LED structures, displays and solar cells, as well as enable increased optical data storage capacity.
About Synopsys®Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, intellectual property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing. Synopsys' comprehensive, integrated portfolio of implementation, verification, IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) solutions helps address the key challenges designers and manufacturers face today, such as power and yield management, system-to-silicon verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading solutions help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has approximately 70 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com.

PRESS RELEASE

Cisco Completes Acquisition of ClearAccess

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Press Release

03/28/2012
Cisco Announces Intent to Acquire ClearAccess

SAN JOSE, Calif. – May 1, 2012 – Cisco today announced the completion of  the acquisition of privately held ClearAccess, a Vancouver, Wash. based company that provides TR-069 standards-based software to service providers for the provisioning and management of residential and mobile devices. This acquisition includes ClearAccess' software business and talent. Cisco and ClearAccess' combined network management and software capabilities will enable service providers to better deliver, manage and monetize their services, while helping to improve operational efficiencies and customer experiences.

The ClearAccess team will be integrated into the Cisco Network Management Technology Group. Specific financial terms of the transaction are undisclosed. 

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go tohttp://newsroom.cisco.com.

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