On July 23, Cisco Systems Inc. and Sourcefire, Inc. (NASDAQ: FIRE) announced a definitive agreement for Cisco to acquire Sourcefire for $2.7 billion. Cisco will pay $76 per share for the company, a premium of 28.6 percent over Sourcefire's closing price on July 22 of $59.08. The deal is expected to close during the second half of 2013.
Sourcefire, based in Columbia, Md., delivers effective, highly automated security through continuous awareness, detection and protection across its industry-leading portfolio, including next-generation intrusion prevention systems, next-generation firewalls and advanced malware protection.
Sourcefire has been a long time client of Morrison & Foerster. Our lawyers, led by relationship partner Thomas Knox, have represented the company since shortly after its founding in 2001, advising on a range of issues, including commercial and litigation matters, venture financing rounds, the company's 2007 initial public offering and multiple acquisitions.
Morrison & Foerster partners Lawrence Yanowitch and Charles Katz in Northern Virginia led the deal for Sourcefire. Corporate associates Jacob Bernstein, Jessica King and Lindsay Thomas, also from Northern Virginia, worked on the deal. Other team members include Northern Virginia partner Thomas Knox and associate Daniel Kahan on intellectual property matters; New York partner Domnick Bozzetti and associate Matt Shiels on employee compensation matters; Washington, D.C. partners David Meyer and Jonathan Gowdy on antitrust matters; Northern Virginia partner John Harper on tax matters; and Northern Virginia partner Lawrence Bard and associate Christina Valencia on securities matters.