Extreme Networks to Acquire Wireless LAN Business from Zebra

Today, Extreme Networks announced that they’ve agreed to acquire Zebra Technology‘s wireless WLAN business in a full cash transaction. The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2016 (The second quarter of the fiscal 2017 year for Extreme Networks) and is subject to customary closing conditions such as regulatory approvals. The acquisition is expected to expand Extreme Networks’ wired and wireless software driven solutions while complementing its vertical market focus. This transaction will enable Extreme to acquire customers, personnel, and technology assets from Zebra. These customers will benefit from Extreme’s portfolio. This acquisition puts Extreme Networks at the forefront of education, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, and state and local government markets, while extending the company into a number of new verticals including retail and transportation. All the WLAN customers served will have access to Extreme Networks’ ExtremeWorks service offerings. The company’s best of breed mobility solutions will be offered to all registered re-sellers under their partner program.

Extreme is expected to continue investing in its newly acquired technology strengthen the company’s software-driven solutions portfolio. With expanded capabilities, these solutions will be able to leverage Zebra’s technologies . With this acquisition, Extreme will add in-house managed services capabilities to existing offerings.

“Combining Zebra’s WLAN technologies and marquee retail, transportation and logistics, and hospitality customers with Extreme Networks’ wired and wireless capabilities, recognized as visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant, creates the industry’s number three WLAN enterprise campus powerhouse,” said Ed Meyercord, President and CEO of Extreme Networks. “WLAN is the fastest growing segment in the networking industry. Our heritage of delivering innovative and pioneering technology is reinforced with today’s announcement, underscoring our commitment to providing customers worldwide with unified visibility and control across their wired and wireless networks.”

“The WLAN business is an ideal fit with Extreme Networks as a pure play networking company, and we are proud of our WLAN employees for the contributions they have made to Zebra and will make in the future,” said Anders Gustafsson, CEO of Zebra Technologies. “This transaction enables us to increase our focus on delivering the best Enterprise Asset Intelligence solutions, in collaboration with our partners, that give our customers real-time visibility into their operations so they can make smarter decisions. We continually evaluate our business to ensure we are focusing on the areas which generate the strongest growth and highest return profiles, and today’s announcement exemplifies that commitment to our shareholders.”