It’s been a week or two, so it was obviously time for another acquisition by Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO, news, filings). Today they announced their intention to purchase privately held Cariden Technologies. Cariden joins Cloupia and Meraki on Cisco’s November shopping list, and the Christmas season is just getting started.
Cariden focuses on the software tools used by carriers and service providers to manage their IP/MPLS networks, with a vision they have been laying out over the last few quarters. Basically, it’s about enabling service providers to better automate and manage changes to their physical networks via higher level software interfaces.
It’s another piece in Cisco’s SDN puzzle, although they aren’t calling it by that acronym of course but rather in the context of its Open Networkin Environment. Cisco will be rolling Cariden’s products into its nLight technology offerings aimed at service provider networking. Cariden has until now been an independent voice in the evolution of SDN, and its integration into Cisco will likely affect that balance going forward.
The purchase price is $141M, which for Cisco will come out of petty cash, and will close during Cisco’s second fiscal quarter.
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Categories: Mergers and Acquisitions · Telecom Equipment
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This is a super pickup for Cisco. Knowing some of the very talented folks at Cariden i am not at all surprised by this. I just hope Cisco doesn’t snuff out the fire that helped cariden become so successful. Mr. Chambers if you are reading this please let this little gem continue to prosper.
Cisco often snuffs out great products, so I’d expect nothing less.
Seconding the wealth of talent Cariden has. here’s to hoping it isn’t squandered.