Check Point Slated to Acquire Protect Data

Check Point Software Technologies said it has made an offer to acquire Sweden-based Protect Data for approximately $586 million. Protect Data board members have approved the acquisition, which is subject to regulatory and shareholder approval.

Check Point considers Protect Data, owner of Pointsec Mobile Technologies, to be a leader in data security for laptops, desktop computers, PDAs, and smart phones. Check Point said the acquisition will begin the next phase of its strategy to add a data security layer to its overall offerings. The company hopes to realize a vision of securing all enterprise data.

Check Point said that if it can gain the support of at least 90 percent of the shareholders of Protect Data, it expects the acquisition to be complete in early 2007.