Google's $32 billion Wiz deal may signal a turning point for slow IPO, M&A markets
Google's $32 billion acquisition of Wiz may signal the start of a friendlier initial public offering and deal activity environment.
The search giant announced Tuesday it plans to buy the Israeli cybersecurity startup for $32 billion in its biggest acquisition ever. The deal came months after an initial $23 billion offer fell through and Wiz CEO Assaf Rappaport touted plans for an initial public offering.
While deal activity has slowed from its 2021 heyday, appetite has begun to pick up.
SailPoint went public in February and CoreWeave, which sells Nvidia's AI processors, said in a Thursday filing that it plans to raise up to $2.7 billion in its IPO that's expected this week. Ticket vendor StubHub filed for an IPO on Friday.
Cybersecurity companies look particularly poised to win as companies hunt for ways to shield their highly profitable business models. CB Insights on Tuesday said cybersecurity solutions are one of the top acquisition target areas for 2025.
"Having a more complete offering for securing workloads in the cloud — that's the core, the rationale behind [the Wiz] deal," said Merritt Maxim, Forrester vice president and research director.
AI driving demand for more cybersecurity
The proliferation of artificial intelligence and the transition to the cloud has amplified the need for cybersecurity solutions.
More adept hacking schemes have accelerated since OpenAI's launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, expediting the need for cutting-edge solutions to fend off attackers. That's made cybersecurity a key target area for companies looking to protect their business models, said Neil Barlow, partner at the law firm Clifford Chance.