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HP To Acquire ArcSight For 1.5 Billion

An anonymous reader writes "HP and ArcSight have signed a definitive agreement for HP to acquire ArcSight, a security and compliance management company, for $43.50 per share, or an enterprise value of $1.5 billion. The acquisition will be conducted by means of a cash tender offer for all of ArcSight's outstanding shares of common stock. The closing of the acquisition, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to occur by the end of the calendar year."

44 comments

  1. Wow by C_Kode · · Score: 2, Informative

    Wow. 3Par and now ArcSight? They are going to need to call a credit counseling company after this shopping binge! :D

    1. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't forget Palm, as well...

      http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2010/100701xa.html

    2. Re:Wow by onionman · · Score: 1

      Wow. 3Par and now ArcSight? They are going to need to call a credit counseling company after this shopping binge! :D

      Actually, now is a good time to buy! The current recession has depressed prices throughout the tech sector (well, and in almost every other sector as well), so it makes good business sense for HP to use the opportunity to diversify by purchasing smaller companies that have already gained some traction in niche markets.

      Assuming, of course, that HP has enough liquid assets to cover the purchases.

    3. Re:Wow by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      Wow. 3Par and now ArcSight?

      Sure why not? Why do we need so many different companies anyway?

      Wouldn't it be better if we bought our goods and services from just two or three companies?

      And those people at 3Par and ArcSight who will almost certainly lose jobs (shedding jobs is always part of this sort of takeover) didn't need to be working anyway.

      It would have been nice if HP would have put a little of the billions they spent buying up their supply chain and/or competitors into paying dividends to their shareholders, or (gasp!) maybe investing a little bit in R&D or building a new facility or hire some workers. But the approach most companies are taking with their record profits is "Let's turn 3 companies into 1 company".

      Can anyone tell me what the ultimate end result when 3 companies become 1 company and it happens over and over? How many companies are left in the end?

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    4. Re:Wow by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      Don't forget Palm, as well...

      Ah, so it's four companies becoming one company. Even better! Let's keep consolidating companies until we have One Big Company!

      Except I doubt that One Big Company will have enough jobs for us all.

      We hear all the Tea Party shinola about how "government's getting too big" while there's a swelling, metastasizing transnational blob in their back yard eating anything that moves.

      It's going to get interesting when they figure out who the real enemy is.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    5. Re:Wow by rivaldufus · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's HP. They can just lay off enough people to cover the tab. It's the Fiorina fandango.

    6. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The tea party are pawns of the corporate feudal society. They are deceived into seeking to weaken the government so that there are no checks or balances on the power possessed by the owner class.

    7. Re:Wow by Jawnn · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It's going to get interesting when they figure out who the real enemy is.

      Do not hold your breath. They aren't so stupid that they can't figure it out. The problem is that they do not want to figure it out. They would rather continue believing that the companies that gave gramps the swell life he had in 1960 would do so again if only they were not taxed to death by that Kenyan socialist president. It hurts to actually realize that the leaders they trust have sold them out, that those jobs are now long gone (offshore), and that life is unlikely to ever be that good again.

    8. Re:Wow by jo42 · · Score: 1

      My initial reactions where 3Par-who? Arc-who? Never heard of them until now. Must have been under a rock somewhere for sometime...

    9. Re:Wow by evilpenguin · · Score: 1

      I haven't done the actual math but I think it would be either 2 or 1 depending on whether you started with an odd or even number of companies... ;)

  2. stock markup 'poised' for dead population 'bounce' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    one can choose from a variety of locations where the populations are predominately dead, dying, or demise scheduled. there's some sizable profits in mass murder/pseudo extinctions of populations. not to mention the advantages of disappearing bad history. seems like this has happened before?

  3. Anonymous Coward by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Don't forget Palm.

  4. Do not want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    *sigh*

    HP will destroy them. What other products are out there these days? Anyone have any experience in other products? /has over a million dollars in this thing... does not want to be an HP customer.

    1. Re:Do not want by onionman · · Score: 1

      *sigh*

      HP will destroy them. What other products are out there these days? Anyone have any experience in other products? /has over a million dollars in this thing... does not want to be an HP customer.

      Now, now, let's not be hasty. I'm sure that HP has learned from the whole "Itanium will be sooo much better than Alpha debacle."

    2. Re:Do not want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There really is no one in the SIEM market doing it better than ARCSight at the moment, there are however cheaper alternatives... but you get what you pay for.

    3. Re:Do not want by bleh-of-the-huns · · Score: 1

      Arcsight makes a quality product, and while I am no fan of their licensing costs (they are ridiculous... cost per user, cost per processor, cost per agent, even more expensive cost for admin user...), I doubt HP will butcher the product. At most I see rebranding, and additional support for HP's other product line, but other than that, doubt much will change.

      --
      I came, I conquered, I coredumped
    4. Re:Do not want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I am no fan of their licensing costs (they are ridiculous... cost per user, cost per processor, cost per agent, even more expensive cost for admin user...)
      Have you looked a QRadar? Great product on the same level (better in some areas) as Arc Sight, without the ridiculous cost.

    5. Re:Do not want by bleh-of-the-huns · · Score: 1

      I have used qradar as part of a DHS/USCert initiative. It was pretty, it did not scale so well when you have 12 major operational networks to monitor.

      --
      I came, I conquered, I coredumped
  5. news for nerds = megacorp mergers? by ciaran_o_riordan · · Score: 1

    ...but thanks for the share price info. It's what I come to Slashdot for :-p

    1. Re:news for nerds = megacorp mergers? by sakdoctor · · Score: 1

      I had to reach for my corporate bullshit dictionary when I saw "compliance management".

      Obviously you can't just explain this term with mere text. You'll need to see the flowchart and powerpoint presentation for yourself,

  6. Geek side of story? by iONiUM · · Score: 1

    I was hoping Slashdot would put the specific for this deal, like why is HP buying this company out? What is HPs long term goal for acquiring this company?

    I have heard that it's a continuation of ex-CEO Hurd's vision for HP, but what exactly that vision is I have yet to hear. I mean, the closest I can get is vague quotes like "Together, HP and ArcSight will be well-positioned to secure even the most demanding environments." What exactly does that mean?

    1. Re:Geek side of story? by ZeroExistenZ · · Score: 1

      "Together, HP and ArcSight will be well-positioned to secure even the most demanding environments." What exactly does that mean?

      It means more "Security by marketing".

      --
      I think we can keep recursing like this until someone returns 1
    2. Re:Geek side of story? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Together, HP and ArcSight will be well-positioned to secure even the most demanding environments." What exactly does that mean?

      It means more "Security by marketing".

      Believe it or not, some of HP's recent acquisitions are pretty damn good at security.

      I can see how and why this fits into the grand plan and personally think it is a very smart move indeed. Take the blinkers off and you might learn something.

  7. HP's the only one taking the recession seriously by ProppaT · · Score: 4, Interesting

    In rough times, you have to diversify and try to slide into new markets to keep making money. Let's face it, the dollar isn't getting any stronger anytime soon. HP's taking their cash reserves and investing it now instead of watching their net worth dwindle. HP's pushing themselves to be the new industry leader in all tech sectors, not just their traditional markets.

    I think in the long run, companies like Dell will look back and wonder why they didn't do what HP's currently doing. Now's the time to buy and innovate, not be conservative and limit your market strategy.

    --
    Wise men say, "Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza."
  8. Binge and Purge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In the long run, HP will be selling all this crap off to make itself look better to Wall St. and we'll all be talking about how HP went off the rails right around the time they forced Hurd out.

  9. Weak dollar? by Errol+backfiring · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Seeing how the US politics are run by companies, I'd say that the dollar is stronger than ever.

    --
    Nae king! Nae laird! Nae yurrupiean pressedent! We willna be fooled again!
  10. Yep. by AnonymousClown · · Score: 1

    In the long run, HP will be selling all this crap off to make itself look better to Wall St. and we'll all be talking about how HP went off the rails right around the time they forced Hurd out.

    It could be: GE went through this. Now, GE makes about 2/3rds of their money from finance. Time Warner/AOL is another example.

    Many times these huge corps go apeshit with their cash buying things up only to have the purchases be detrimental to their performance. They do it mostly just to do something - anything with their cash and the purchases may not be appropriate. Right now, there's a huge push in the computer industry to make acquisitions - it's a mature commodity business now and the only way to grow to to buy.

    I have no idea what HP's upper management has in store for this purchase - the article is nothing but PR fluff - but they better have a plan or you'll be right and they'll be sticking their fingers down their throats in 10 years to get rid of this business at a fraction of the price.

    --
    RIP America

    July 4, 1776 - September 11, 2001

  11. Re:HP's the only one taking the recession seriousl by PerfectionLost · · Score: 1

    Yea I dunno. The dollar is pretty weak at the moment. 1.5 billion is a lot of money to be spending in a rescession... unless you are getting a very good deal.

  12. If you don't know what to do ... merge or aquire! by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This seems to be the business strategy now. When the shit hits the fan, you'll be long gone on your golden parachute.

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  13. To All ArcSight Employees reading this: by Haelyn · · Score: 3, Informative

    RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!

    Run away as fast as you can as soon as you can!

    Sincerely,

    -A former EDSer, now trying to leave HP

    1. Re:To All ArcSight Employees reading this: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're welcome to leave. But please don't be a jackass on your way out.

      HP employee, staying with HP.

    2. Re:To All ArcSight Employees reading this: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      IMO wait and see what HP appoints as the new CEO first.

    3. Re:To All ArcSight Employees reading this: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I couldn't agreed more.

    4. Re:To All ArcSight Employees reading this: by BurfCurse · · Score: 1

      No, get the hell out. Its amazing the difference working for a company that cares as much about its employees as it does its bottom line. Refreshing. Enjoy your paycut buddy. Happy employee, that left HP

  14. Re:HP's the only one taking the recession seriousl by Xsydon · · Score: 1

    Dell has been making acquisitions left and right for years now.

  15. ArcSight is #1 in what they do by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Few other SIEM vendors even compare ArcSight, their products arguably an an order of magnitude better than their compeditors. This was a very wise acquisition on HP's part, in the SIEM game there really are only about 3 worth looking at regardless and to the best of my knowledge HP wasn't in that game before this anyway.

    1. Re:ArcSight is #1 in what they do by a-zarkon! · · Score: 1

      About an order of magnitude more expensive too... (My 2 cents, ymmv, etc.) I'm curious as to see if HP is going to snap up a couple other "security" companies so HP can be a "security company" like Intel with McAfee, EMC with RSA, and IBM with ISS? What's the price tag on Symantec these days?

    2. Re:ArcSight is #1 in what they do by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      This was a very wise acquisition on HP's part

      My issue is not with whether or not it will boost HP's bottom line.

      My concern is that it's contributing to an overall social/economic decline in America, and will ultimately be very bad for consumers.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    3. Re:ArcSight is #1 in what they do by LostCauz · · Score: 1

      ArcSight is crap. Not one single SmartConnecter I've used that they've created has worked right, with the exception of the CEF connector, which I've used to replace their half assed implementations. Even their Logger appliance doesn't work right. I wouldn't recommend ArcSight to ANYONE.

    4. Re:ArcSight is #1 in what they do by nbSouthPaw · · Score: 1

      I second this. The only thing this company does well is market their crap. You spend millions and get locked in before you realize how much their product blows.

  16. Re:HP's the only one taking the recession seriousl by radtea · · Score: 3, Insightful

    In rough times, you have to diversify and try to slide into new markets to keep making money.

    Yeah, I'd do that except the Bush/Obama bailouts took all my money, leaving it in the hands of the corporate sector to go on a buying spree because stock prices tanked wiping out my 401K.

    As it happens, I'm not an American, so none of that is true, but I can't help but think it's how a lot of Americans must feel: the government socialized the risk of corporations that are already heavily protected from liability by the Nanny State's special treatment of them under the various Companies Acts, leaving the corporate sector flush with cash at a time of (arguably) relatively low stock valuations.

    Ergo: merger mania! Acquisitions for all! Well, at least for all who are hiding behind the skirts of the Nanny State, rather than living within their means and struggling to get by. Just remember: helping out those folks would be Socialism!

    --
    Blasphemy is a human right. Blasphemophobia kills.
  17. Quite a bit of Kleiner-Perkins Activity Recently.. by Purist · · Score: 0

    Fortify and then ArcSite...maybe K-P put together a package deal for HP?

    Anyway...HP is beefing up the security side of the house pretty well...

    P

    --
    I used to fear clowns...but I'm discovering that chimps are far, far, worse.
  18. Re:HP's the only one taking the recession seriousl by MozeeToby · · Score: 1

    Yeah, I'd do that except the Bush/Obama bailouts took all my money, leaving it in the hands of the corporate sector to go on a buying spree because stock prices tanked wiping out my 401K.

    I disagree with this sentiment, by the time the bailouts happened the damage had already been done. A lot of the companies bailed out really would have caused serious damage to national and world economies had they been allowed to fail. The mistake wasn't bailing them out, it was letting them get so large and powerful that their failure would spell doom for global economies.

    It would be like complaining about the government using your tax dollars to repair a huge dam that is upriver from your town. The problem isn't that they're using tax dollars to make the repairs, the real problem is that they built the dam in the first place, an error compounded by lack of inspections and regulations over the years that allowed the dam to get so damaged that not repairing it would lead to disaster. Yeah, the company that built the dam should be the one paying for those repairs, (and in this analogy they kind of are since most of the bailout was in the form of loans) but would you really let the dam wash away and destroy the town just to make a point about corporate responsibility?

  19. Re:If you don't know what to do ... merge or aquir by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That kind of cynicism is a little too easy. Like it or hate it, this move is perfectly in line with the Fiorina/Hurd vision that has made HP a technology services/integrator that Wall Street adores.

    HP perceives holes in its security suite, and Arcsight is an effective move to both plug some of those holes and bring another cash cow into its stables, albeit at not a small price tag.

    Of course, the HP of yesteryear might have been able to spend a mere couple of hundred million over a few years to develop technology that could compete head-to-head with Arcsight. But that is not the HP of today.