Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire Israeli cloud cybersecurity startup Wiz for approximately $23 billion. This potential acquisition would be Google's largest ever, surpassing its $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility in 2012. Wiz, founded in 2020, has demonstrated rapid growth, reaching $350 million in revenue by 2023 and achieving $500 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR). The deal is expected to provide significant returns for Wiz's investors, with Index Ventures' stake valued at $2.5 billion and the top five investors potentially seeing a return of at least $7 billion. The acquisition is seen as a strategic move to bolster Google's cloud security offerings and compete with Microsoft in the cybersecurity market. Wiz CEO Assaf Rappaport noted that the industry is fragmented and that mergers and acquisitions are ramping up. The transaction is still subject to negotiations and regulatory approval, with Jefferies senior analyst Brent Thill discussing its implications for shareholders. Despite its rapid growth, Wiz reported $100 million in losses over the past year.
Solution provider executives told @KyleAlspach that Google’s reported effort to beef up its cloud and AI security offerings by potentially acquiring Wiz shows how central cybersecurity has become in the tech industry. https://t.co/2T4Kebrzk9
Alphabet's planned purchase of Wiz follows in the footsteps of Motorola, Fitbit and more. @_B_Contreras https://t.co/l6qHmIN8Cb
Great to be on @BBCWorld discussing the global tech sell off today on Trump’s Taiwan comments that we believe is overblown 🏆🐂🍿📺 https://t.co/mf3G9Cf6FU