Aerospace and government defense contractors Raytheon and United Technologies have announced a "merger of equals" that will create $74 billion in combined annual sales.Among the big potential marks:MSSP Alert is tuning into the M&A announcement to gather more details.
- What will the combined company do with Raytheon's cybersecurity and managed security services businesses -- particularly the Forcepoint business unit?
- Also, what will the combined company do with United Technologies' Lenel -- a provider of security systems and services that protect buildings, people and assets.
Raytheon and United Technologies Merge: Forcepoint Ownership Question Marks?
During an October 2018 earnings call, Raytheon CFO Toby O'Brien said the company would consider "all options" for Forcepoint -- perhaps meaning that the business unit may eventually be sold, Wall Street observers indicated at the time, according to Reuters.Speculation about a potential Forcepoint sale has been strong in recent months.Forcepoint, previously known as Websense or Raytheon|Websense, is an Austin, Texas-based company. Raytheon acquired 80 percent of the business in April 2015. By 2017, Forcepoint acquired RedOwl for security analytics technology. Also of note, Raytheon is a Top 20 Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider.Raytheon's overall cyber business spans such products and services as:- Cyber analytics and intelligence services;
- Cyber as a Service;
- Cybersecurity automation and orchestration management;
- Cyber physical systems security;
- Cyber resiliency;
- Cyber systems integration;
- Cyber warfare;
- Computer network operations mission support; and
- mission services.
