SurfControl eyes up Baltimore subsidiary

Vendor refuses to confirm or deny takeover rumours

Security software vendor Baltimore is remaining tight-lipped over rumours that internet filtering software vendor SurfControl is considering making a bid for its Content Technologies subsidiary.

Earlier this year, the Dublin-based firm, which shed 18 per cent of its workforce in a bid to save £14m a year, revealed plans to sell the subsidiary. It bought the email security firm for $1bn (£679m) last year.

Baltimore was this year targeted by encryption technology firm Chantilley as a potential acquisition, but the take-over bid failed.

A Baltimore representative said: "We are not in a position to confirm or deny whether SurfControl has contacted Baltimore. But we can confirm that there have been several expressions of interest in a potential acquisition of the Content Technologies business."

Tom Moriarty, senior vice president of corporate communications at SurfControl, said: "We are always evaluating our strategy and are looking at a number of opportunities, which include Content Technologies."