Two European internet security firms have merged to increase their coverage and cut costs. Integralis Technology Ltd and Articon Information Systems AG will create a company known as Articon Integralis AG with revenue of 40m pounds ($65m) and operations spanning Europe. Munich, Germany-based Articon, which floated last year on the Neuer Markt, will issue four million shares worth 77m pounds ($125m) to acquire Reading, UK-based Integralis. The new board says it is considering a secondary public offering in the first half next year to raise capital.
Integralis has just completed the acquisition of near neighbor MessageNet Ltd for an undisclosed sum, strengthening its firewall product line MessageNet’s E-Scan email security service. Where the Articon deal was motivated by geographic considerations, the MessageNet acquisition will boost Integralis’ product and service range. E-Scan customers can block spam and viruses and create rules for email attachments or video clips. The price depends on the number of users and messages, but a 1,000 seat system will cost about 10,000 pounds per year. MessageNet runs the service over datacenters in London run by San Jose-based Exodus Communications Inc.
