Citrix Joins VMware Rivalry
SAN FRANCISCO -- Citrix Systems(CTXS Quote) declared itself a direct competitor to IPO hotshot VMware(VMW Quote) with its acquisition Wednesday of privately held virtualization developer XenSource.
The $500 million deal -- 60% stock and 40% cash -- gives Citrix a strong virtualization software maker that complements its own virtualization capability for application software. Citrix is assuming $107 million in unvested XenSource stock options, "which we believe will help with employee retention," Citrix CFO David Henshall said in a conference call. It also allows Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Citrix to grab a piece of the market for virtualization as it grows from an estimated $5.5 billion today to $11.7 billion in 2011, according to figures from IDC. VMware, which debuted on the NYSE Tuesday , closed the regular session at $51, or 75.9% above its $29 offering price. The stock was up $7.35, or 14.4%, to $58.35 late Wednesday. Palo Alto, Calif.-based XenSource will become Citrix's new Virtualization and Management Division, said Citrix CEO Mark Templeton. FBR analyst Daniel Ives said in a research note that investors would consider the timing and price tag of the deal a tough pill to swallow for now, "although we agree with the long-term potential growth of the datacenter/desktop virtualization market." Paying roughly 10 times anticipated 2008 revenue "for a dilutive acquisition is a high price" and will put pressure on Citrix's operating margins, Ives said.- Loading Comments...
- Loading Comments...
Recent Comments
Featured Photo Galleries
| Dow Jones | S&P 500 | NASDAQ | 10-Year Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10,344.84 | 1,095.63 | 2,144.60 | 32.01 |
Oil *
78.55
|
|
UP
34.92
|
UP
4.14
|
UP
6.16
|
DOWN
0.30
|
10 Yr
3.20%
SPDR Gold
115.65
|
|
+0.34%
|
+0.38%
|
+0.29%
|
-0.93%
|
Data delayed 20 minutes |














