In what is shaping up to be most important deal of the year Intel revealed intentions to buy McAfee in August for a whopping $7.68 billion, including $48 per share in cash.
Both Intel and McAfee repeatedly have emphasized that under the terms of the deal, McAfee will operate as a wholly owned Intel subsidiary and report into Intel's Software and Services Group. The deal, assuming all shareholder and regulatory approvals are met, could radically change the security paradigm and give Intel the ability to better secure billions of new Internet-ready devices, such as mobile and wireless devices, from myriad sophisticated and evolving malware threats. Down the road, Intel could infuse security into its chipset that powers TVs, cars, medical devices and ATM machines, essentially baking security into all Internet devices.
Meanwhile, some partners have said that the merger, while potentially revolutionary, carries weighty implications that could significantly impact McAfee's channel program and lower-end offerings.
