Sourcefire acquires ClamAV

The Columbia, Md.-based company, which did not disclose the deal’s financial terms, already controls open-source network intrusion detection tool Snort.

The acquisition is Sourcefire’s first since its March initial public offering.

As part of the acquisition, Sourcefire gains control of the ClamAV project and the contents of clamav.org.

Sourcefire is anticipating a one-time charge of 9 to 12 cents per share for the immediate write-off of in-process research and development.

Michelle Perry, Sourcefire chief marketing officer, told SCMagazine.com that other vendors will be able to use ClamAV as through original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreements.

"[ClamAV is] a great technology. In many ways it’s a real parallel to Snort," she said. "Those are two very synergistic technologies there."

Sourcefire filed for an IPO last October, seeking to raise up to US$75 million in stock, just a half year after plans to be acquired by Check Point fizzled out amid a federal investigation.

In March 2006, Sourcefire announced that it was to be acquired by the Israel-based internet and VPN security provider for US$225 million. But Check Point withdrew from the deal after the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States voiced concerns over a foreign company owning Sourcefire, whose technology secures government networks.

Dan Blume, Burton Group senior vice president and research director for directory and security strategies, told SCMagazine.com today that Sourcefire may be expanding its range in anticipation of another acquisition attempt.

"I think that [Sourcefire is] trying to get out of their niche, and trying to make something more out of the company, whether it’s to sell it to a larger entity and realize liquidity or, that having failed with Check Point, looking for a way to expand Sourcefire itself," he said.

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