Mu Dynamics, Inc. Acquisition

RNS Number : 7373B

Spirent Communications PLC

20 April 2012

 



Spirent Communications plc Signs Definitive Agreement
to Acquire Mu Dynamics, Inc.

Combined Expertise to Serve the Market for High Performance, Secure Deployments of Cloud Services and Application-Aware Networks

London, UK - 20 April 2012: Spirent Communications plc ("Spirent", the "Company" or the "Group") (LSE: SPT), a leading communications technology company, announces today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Mu Dynamics, Inc. ("Mu"), based in Sunnyvale, California, for a cash consideration of $40.0 million.  Mu is a security testing pioneer, offering innovative solutions that enable faster, higher quality deployments of Cloud applications and applications-aware networks.

The exponential growth in Cloud-based applications presents critical security risks for equipment manufacturers, service providers, governments, enterprises and end users, requiring them to protect themselves against sophisticated new threats, in order to avoid financial and reputational damage.  To address this fast-growing opportunity, Mu developed the industry's first solution that emulates real application traffic while generating comprehensive security threats, addressing all phases of the development lifecycle.  Mu also recently launched Blitz.io, a Cloud-based service that allows enterprise application and website developers to test users' quality of experience of "Software as a Service" deployments.  This capability will enable Spirent to serve the high-growth Cloud-based Application Performance Management market. 

"Infrastructure security testing is critical to ensuring confidence in the use of globally-deployed networks and applications," said Bill Burns, CEO of Spirent.  "Mu Dynamics brings additional market-leading expertise in cyber security, usability and application emulation to the Spirent solutions portfolio.  Combining Mu's software-based applications and security testing capabilities with Spirent's market-leading performance test platforms will enable us to rapidly create best-in-class security test solutions with higher performance and greater scale than any other provider.  This acquisition aligns with our strategy of delivering profitable growth through expanding our capabilities in growing and emerging technology markets."

Spirent is committed to selling, supporting and enhancing Mu's existing product portfolio.  Meaningful additional revenue will be achieved from Spirent's global reach, especially its strong customer relationships and sales channels in Europe and Asia.  Further benefits will be realized through the integration of Mu's differentiated capabilities into Spirent's performance test platforms, accelerating the growth rate for Spirent's networks and applications product line. 

"Mu has built a powerful software solution set for our customers, enabling them to test security and application-aware networks." said Dave Kresse, CEO of Mu Dynamics.  "We're excited that this transaction will accelerate the global deployment of our solutions, and enable their integration into Spirent's leading performance test solutions."

Spirent expects to consolidate $9.0 to $10.0 million in revenue post-acquisition in 2012, with a positive return on sales.  For the first full year post-acquisition in 2013, revenues are expected to be in the range of $17.0 to $19.0 million operating at Spirent's average return on sales, resulting in a positive enhancement to earnings and achieving an attractive return on investment, in line with Spirent's objectives.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to complete on or about 23 April 2012.

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Enquiries

Bill Burns, Chief Executive Officer		Spirent Communications plc		[phone]
Eric Hutchinson, Chief Financial Officer
James Melville-Ross/Sophie McMillan/ Emma Appleton		FTI Consulting		[phone]

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Communications plc is a global leader in test and measurement inspiring innovation within development labs, communication networks and IT organisations.  We enable today's communication ecosystem as well as tomorrow's emerging enterprises to deploy life enriching communications networks, devices, services and applications.  The Systems group develops sophisticated power control systems for electrical vehicles in the medical mobility and industrial markets.  Further information about Spirent Communications plc can be found at www.spirent.com.

Spirent Communications plc Ordinary Shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: SPT).  The Company operates a Level 1 American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") programme with each ADR representing four Spirent Communications plc Ordinary Shares.  The ADRs trade in the US over-the-counter ("OTC") market under the symbol SPMYY and the CUSIP number is 84856M209.  Spirent ADRs are quoted on the Pink OTC Markets electronic quotation service which can be found at www.pinksheets.com.

Spirent and the Spirent logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Spirent Communications plc.  All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned herein are held by their respective companies.  All rights reserved.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements which are made in good faith and are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future events.  You can sometimes, but not always, identify these statements by the use of a date in the future or such words as "will", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "project", "intend", "plan", "should", "may", "assume" and other similar words.  By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive and speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future.  You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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