29 May 14. Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of the Astrotech Space Operations business of Astrotech Corporation. Astrotech Space Operations is a leader in satellite launch preparation services, from final testing and fuelling to encapsulation and day-of launch operations. The terms of the agreement are not material to Lockheed Martin. Subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including approval by the Astrotech Corporation shareholders, the transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2014. Upon closing, Astrotech Space Operations will be operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin and managed by the corporation’s Space Systems business area. “Astrotech Space Operations’ expertise in the final stages of launch preparation complements our existing capabilities in satellite design, production and integration,” said Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin Chairman, President and CEO. “This new capability expands our Space Systems services portfolio and enhances the value we offer to current and future Lockheed Martin and Astrotech customers.” Astrotech Space Operations has been a global satellite processing leader since 1981. With over 300 successful spacecraft missions to date, Astrotech Space Operations provides all support necessary for successful spacecraft processing to prepare for launch on a variety of U.S. and international launch vehicles. “Joining Lockheed Martin will benefit our customers and our employees,” said Don White, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Astrotech Space Operations. “As a wholly-owned subsidiary, we’ll be able to deliver the same level of expert, affordable launch preparation services our customers have come to expect with the added strength and stability of a company that’s been a leader in the space industry since day one.” Astrotech Space Operations serves a wide range of government and commercial customers, including both U.S. and international agencies and firms. Headquartered in Titusville, Florida, Astrotech Space Operations’ facilities are located near Cape Canaveral, Florida and at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, to support launches on both coasts.
25 May 14. WA-based F5 Networks has announced that it has acquired Defense.Net, Inc., a privately-held provider of cloud-based security services for protecting data centers and Internet applications from distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. The advanced technologies and operational experience shared between the two companies will expand F5’s portfolio of security solutions for defense against Internet-based DDoS attacks on networks, data centers, and applications. Defense.Net’s high-capacity cloud service is complementary to F5’s existing on-premise DDoS Protection capabilities. The combination provides customers with a comprehensive hybrid DDoS solution, engineered to absorb the full threat spectrum of DDoS attacks. Designed by DDoS industry pioneers, Defense.Net’s service is supported by an advanced, high-throughput infrastructure to defend organizations against the new generation of massive and sophisticated DDoS attacks. The Defense.Net network supports multiple protocols and provides ground-breaking features for remediation and control to safeguard customers from unforeseen threat vectors, while maintaining application performance. “F5’s objective is to help protect customers from ever-changing security threats before they impact their businesses,” said Manny Rivelo, EVP of strategic solutions at F5. “Customers ultimately want a unified solution that seamlessly blocks DDoS attacks at the appropriate network location for the type of threat posed. The appeal of a hybrid F5 solution is that it combines the best of on-premises and cloud-based protection. The highly respected team of security experts from Defense.Net is a welcomed addition to F5.” “F5’s DDoS product engineering shows a comparable focus on scale and performan