HPE will fork out $1.44bn to buy Nimble Storage

Hewlett Packard Enterprise will buy data storage provider Nimble for US$1.09 billion (A$1.44 billion) in cash, to expand its presence in the fast-growing flash storage business.

HPE CEO Meg Whitman has been focusing on a few areas such as networking, storage and technology services since the company was spun off from Hewlett-Packard in 2015.

Nimble Storage's shares rose 45.3 percent to US$12.50, matching HPE's offer price. HPE's stock was marginally down.

The US$1.09 billion deal value is based on Nimble Storage's outstanding shares of about 87.5 million as of 30 November, according to Reuters calculations.

HPE also agreed to assume or pay out Nimble's unvested equity awards with a value of about US$200 million at close.

Nimble makes hybrid storage devices that combine hard disks and flash drives. The company's larger rivals include NetApp and Dell's EMC.

Nimble Storage's entry- to mid-range flash-based products will help HPE cater to customers across all segments, the company said on Tuesday.

"The company can bring Nimble's operations to scale more quickly," Mizuho Securities analyst Abhey Lamba said in a note.

The overall flash market, estimated at about US$15 billion in 2016, is expected to expand to nearly US$20 billion by 2020, according to research firm IDC.

Sales in HPE's storage business fell 13 percent in its latest quarter. The company has also cut its full-year profit forecast.

The deal is expected to add to HPE's earnings in the first full fiscal year following the close, which is likely to come by April.

"While accretive, however, we do not think the deal is likely to move the needle for investors," Lamba said.

Nimble, founded in 2007, also reported fourth-quarter revenue above estimates and a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss.

HPE has been on an acquisition spree since the start of this year. The company in January said it would buy analytics software provider Cloud Cruiser, and in February acquired privately held cloud software company SimpliVity for US$650 million.