Red Hat to Acquire C2Net, the Number One Commercial Secure Web Server Developer

Broadens Capabilities to Deliver Secure Internet Infrastructure Solutions From Servers to Handhelds; Provides Common Open Source Platform to Communicate Across the Internet

ノースカロライナ州ローリー -

Red Hat, Inc. (Nasdaq:RHAT), the leader in open source Internet infrastructure solutions, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase privately held C2Net Software, Inc. C2Net Software is the developer of the popular Apache-based Stronghold secure web server. C2Net customers include Amazon.com, Ameritrade, IBM and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Online.

"Enterprise customers want a single source for complete solutions to build out their Internet infrastructure. With the acquisition of C2Net, Red Hat adds security to our growing capabilities of OS development, tools and e-commerce that delivers unprecedented value to our customers," said Matthew Szulik, president and CEO of Red Hat, Inc. "Powerful, secure solutions like C2Net's Stronghold and the rapid technological advancement of the open source development model, which finds and fixes holes faster than proprietary development, delivers organizations a safe, advanced foundation for e-business initiatives."

Red Hat continues to broaden its product offerings to deliver a complete spectrum of Internet infrastructure solutions--which include powerful and secure Web servers, post-PC devices connected to each other through those servers, and the complete chain of development tools and services needed to rapidly create, deploy and manage Internet infrastructure. Red Hat's solutions leverage open source software to deliver all the necessary tools and services to deploy, manage and scale the Internet with a single open source platform.

Under the terms of the agreement, Red Hat will issue 1,992,883 shares of Red Hat common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding securities of Oakland, California-based C2Net. The transaction will be valued based on an average closing price of Red Hat's common shares for the seven-day period ended August 16, 2000. The acquisition will be accounted for as a purchase and is expected to be completed by August 31, 2000, subject to customary closing conditions.

According to the most recent InformationWeek "Global Security" survey, 74 percent of companies suffered downtime due to security breaches or espionage and 71 percent of executives and technology managers rank information security as a high priority for their business. C2Net's Stronghold, which is based on Apache and available for many operating system platforms, is the most popular commercial SSL Web server on the Internet with more than 30 percent of the secure web server market, according to Security Space. Red Hat Linux is the most popular open source operating system (OS) for Web servers and sites, with more than 72 percent of all Web sites running Linux choosing Red Hat according to the latest Netcraft survey (www.netcraft.com). The acquisition combines these market leaders to deliver the secure e-commerce infrastructure solutions that are in tremendous demand in today's organizations.

"Red Hat has a tremendous vision, expertise and market lead as the platform for a new generation of Internet and post-PC solutions. C2Net's Stronghold product is the most popular secure Web server for UNIX systems, and C2Net customers have always enjoyed the benefits of open source development," said William Rowzee, CEO of C2Net. "But there is tremendous synergy between Red Hat and C2Net that extends beyond our enthusiastic support of open source software and its worldwide community of developers. We are very excited to be able to leverage Red Hat's unique spectrum of packaged solutions and services in providing even more comprehensive solutions for our customers."

C2Net is the fifth major acquisition for Red Hat in 2000. In July, it completed the acquisition of WireSpeed, a leading developer of network and telecommunications software that helps connect a new generation of post-PC and embedded devices to the Internet and secure Web servers like Stronghold. In May, Red Hat acquired Bluecurve, whose performance management solutions allow organizations to simulate and measure user activity and demands placed on the Internet infrastructure and applications. And in January, Red Hat acquired both Hell's Kitchen Systems, Inc. (HKS), a provider of e-commerce payment processing software critical for any company trying to conduct business on the Web, and Cygnus Solutions, a top provider of a wide variety of software, tools, services and developer support for servers, real-time operating systems (RTOS) and embedded, post-PC platforms.

About C2Net
C2Net is the global provider of Stronghold secure web server software. Stronghold is available for more than 30 platforms, including several versions of Linux and most other common UNIX platforms.

As the first commercial server to support SSL and make its source code available to the development community, C2Net's Stronghold server has been leading the creation and adoption of security standards and protocols in Web-based computing for years. Stronghold was the first SSL Web server to support: 128-bit encryption, HTTP/1.1, SSL client certificates and hardware crypto acceleration. Stronghold 3, the latest version of C2Net's solution, includes administration tools for easy installation, powerful server-side scripting and unlimited virtual hosting on one license.

C2Net's customers include a blue-chip roster of leading Internet e-commerce businesses including Amazon.com, Ameritrade, Earthlink/Mindspring/Netcom, IBM, Lucent Technologies, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Online, Network Solutions, USA.net, US Department of Energy, US Federal Courts, and Verio, Inc.

C2Net was founded in 1994 and has offices in Oakland, California and Newbury, England. The Company's revenues increased 46 percent in 1999 to $3.25 million. Additional information and free evaluation copies of Stronghold are available at http://www.c2.net.

C2Net Q & A

{C}

About Red Hat, Inc.

Red Hat, the world's leading open source and Linux provider, is headquartered in Raleigh, NC with satellite offices spanning the globe. Red Hat is leading Linux and open source solutions into the mainstream by making high quality, low cost technology accessible. Red Hat provides operating system software along with middleware, applications and management solutions. Red Hat also offers support, training and consulting services to its customers worldwide and through top-tier partnerships. Red Hat's open source strategy offers customers a long term plan for building infrastructures that are based on and leverage open source technologies with focus on security and ease of management. Learn more: http://www.redhat.com

There is no default locale or translation available for this content.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements in this press release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release that are not strictly historical statements, including, without limitation, management's plans and objectives for future operations, and management's assessment of market factors, constitute forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, reliance upon strategic relationships, management of growth, the possibility of undetected software errors, the risks of economic downturns generally, and in Red Hat's industry specifically, the risks associated with competition and competitive pricing pressures, the viability of the Internet, and other risks detailed in Red Hat's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which may be accessed through the SEC's Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

LINUX is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. RED HAT is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc. All other names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

  • About Red Hat
  • Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to reliable and high-performing cloud, Linux, middleware, storage and virtualization technologies. Red Hat also offers award-winning support, training, and consulting services. As the connective hub in a global network of enterprises, partners, and open source communities, Red Hat helps create relevant, innovative technologies that liberate resources for growth and prepare customers for the future of IT. Learn more at http://www.redhat.com.



  • Forward-Looking Statements
  • Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: risks related to delays or reductions in information technology spending; the effects of industry consolidation; the ability of the Company to compete effectively; the integration of acquisitions and the ability to market successfully acquired technologies and products; uncertainty and adverse results in litigation and related settlements; the inability to adequately protect Company intellectual property and the potential for infringement or breach of license claims of or relating to third party intellectual property; the ability to deliver and stimulate demand for new products and technological innovations on a timely basis; risks related to data and information security vulnerabilities; ineffective management of, and control over, the Company’s growth and international operations; fluctuations in exchange rates; and changes in and a dependence on key personnel, as well as other factors contained in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (copies of which may be accessed through the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov), including those found therein under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations". In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic and political conditions, governmental and public policy changes and the impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.