VMWare to buy AirWatch mobile security firm for $1.54 billion

Cloud software maker VMWare Inc said it would buy privately held mobile security company AirWatch in a deal valued at about $1.54 billion to tap into rising demand for software security, sending its shares up 3 percent in premarket trading.

Mobile security products are in high demand because cyber attacks on mobile devices have grown exponentially in recent years as sales of smartphones and tablets have surged.

Atlanta-based AirWatch, whose rivals include Cytrix, MobileIron and FrontRange, says it has more than 10,000 customers in 150 countries, including nine of top 10 U.S. retailers.

"With mobile device usage becoming more prevalent in the workplace, we believe this acquisition will prove strategic in complementing and enhancing VMWare's end-user computing business," ISI Group analyst Brian Marshall said in a note.

VMWare said it would pay about $1.18 billion in cash and about $365 million in installment payments and assumed unvested equity.

The company said it expects revenue growth of 16-20 percent in 2015 and 2016, up from previous forecast of 15-20 percent. VMware expects the acquisition to add to adjusted profit in late 2015.

VMware also said its fourth-quarter adjusted revenue is expected to rise 20 percent to $1.48 billion as it sold more licenses to enterprise customers.

Analysts were expecting $1.47 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

VMWare, which has been adding more enterprise customers and renewing enterprise licensing contracts at a higher rate over the last year, said license revenue rose about 18 percent to $687 million in the quarter.

AirWatch, founded in 2003, will become a unit of VMWare but its 1,600 employees will continue to report to AirWatch founder and Chief Executive John Marshall. AirWatch co-founder and Chairman Alan Dabbiere will report to VMWare CEO Pat Gelsinger.

Analyst Brian Marshall said AirWatch had raised about $225 million in funding from Insight Venture Partners and Accel Partners. "AirWatch revenue last year may have been in the $125-$150 million range," he said.

VMware sells virtualization software, which enables the creation of a virtual machine that acts like a real computer with an operating system. This helps companies use server and storage space more efficiently and reduce IT costs.

VMWare shares closed at $97.36 on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

© Thomson Reuters 2014