UPDATED 20:17 EST / AUGUST 07 2019

INFRA

Broadcom reportedly close to $10B deal to buy Symantec’s enterprise business

Computer chipmaker Broadcom Inc. is about to acquire cybersecurity firm Symantec Corp.’s enterprise business for about $10 billion, according to separate reports from the Wall Street Journal and Reuters late today that cite people familiar with the matter.

The companies are reportedly at the “advanced talks” stage, and a deal could be confirmed as early as this week, possibly when Symantec announces its earnings this Thursday, the sources added.

Symantec, which is valued at $12.63 billion, saw its shares rise 14% in after-hours trading. Broadcom’s shares fell 1%.

Previously, it was reported that Broadcom was trying to buy Symantec in its entirety, with talks also at an advanced stage before they fell apart last month, apparently over price disagreements. But Broadcom returned to the negotiating table with an offer to buy Symantec’s enterprise security business instead, which accounts for about half of the company’s $5 billion annual revenues. Symantec’s consumer business makes up the rest.

Constellation Research Inc. analyst Holger Mueller said Broadcom’s interest in Symantec stems from a need to diversify itself as its main computer chip business is in decline.

“Though the overall acquisition of Symantec fell through, Broadcom is now vying for the ‘filet’ pieces that better fit its business-to-business customer base, namely Symantec’s enterprise business,” Mueller said. “This could be a good strategy for Broadcom if it manages to execute and re-position itself as a broader enterprise platform and software player. It may also prove to be a good deal for Symantec. Being smaller, it will be able to unleash its focus, capital and talent on the consumer space.”

Symantec is keen to sell itself because it has struggled in recent years amid stiff competition from “nimbler rivals,” Reuters reported. The company is saddled with more than $2 billion in debt, has seen several of its top executives leave in recent months, and is under investigation by the U.S. government for alleged accounting irregularities.

Analyst Charles King of Pund-IT Inc. told SiliconANGLE that negotiations between the two companies seem to have reached a “glass half-full stage” after Broadcom refused to pony up what Symantec thought was fair value for its entire business.

“Selling its enterprise operations will provide Symantec with some ready cash and breathing room,” King said. “The deal also fits the enterprise focus that we’ve seen before in other Broadcom acquisitions, like CA Technologies. Overall, it could work out well for both companies.”

Photo: Petergibbons949/Flickr

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