Thales, a Paris-based conglomerate, has agreed to acquire Imperva, a Silicon Valley-based cybersecurity firm, for $3.6 billion, as part of its strategic move to enter the application and API security market and expand its data security offerings. The acquisition will complement Thales’ security portfolio by adding a robust web application firewall and capabilities in API protection, data discovery and classification, data security governance, and data access monitoring.
This purchase is a significant milestone in Thales’ cybersecurity strategy, aiming to position itself as a comprehensive global cybersecurity integrated player, providing a wide range of products to meet the increasing demand for cybersecurity solutions.
The transaction, expected to close in early 2024, is set to create a $2.66 billion cybersecurity behemoth, further solidifying Thales’ position in the industry. Thales anticipates approximately $500 million of additional security revenue from Imperva’s offerings, providing a notable boost to their line card. The deal is also projected to yield $50 million of cost synergies and $60 million of revenue synergies, driving organic sales growth and a 16.5% EBIT margin in Thales’ digital identity and security practice.
Under Thoma Bravo’s ownership, Imperva has thrived in the competitive cybersecurity market, and its acquisition by Thales will align its strengths in application security with Thales’ expertise in identity and data security. This collaboration will result in a joint security portfolio that leverages Imperva’s prowess in protecting data at rest and in use and Thales’ focus on securing data in motion. The Gartner and Forrester recognition of Imperva’s leadership in cloud web application and API protection, as well as Thales’ commendable focus on encryption, further highlights the potential for innovative solutions from the combined forces of both companies.
Imperva’s CEO, Pam Murphy, expressed excitement about the acquisition, stating that it opens up a new chapter for Imperva, enabling them to continue their mission of helping organizations safeguard their data and paths to it. The alignment of Thales’ vision and culture with Imperva’s capabilities is seen as a driving force for greater product innovation and efficiency in tackling the most pressing security challenges.
This strategic collaboration seeks to simplify cybersecurity complexities and provide disruptive solutions to organizations in need of comprehensive and reliable data protection measures.
