Symantec Corp., Acquiring Entrepreneurial Companies

Symantec includes acquisition of entrepreneurial companies as part of its growth strategy. This case examines the motivation for each party to engage in the transaction and focuses on how Symantec manages the process of the acquisition, from the initial “prospecting” to the final “integration.” Examines the specific examples of the acquisitions of Dynamic Microprocessors Associates and Contact Software. Documents the motives of Symantec and the entrepreneurial companies to do the acquisition. Describes the major difficulties in the process. Also documents Symantec’s method of valuation.