BlackBerry to Run Cylance Acquisition as ‘Separate Business Unit,’ Says CEO

If BlackBerry’s $1.4 billion buy of cybersecurity company Cylance (see 1811160024) goes through, “we will keep them as a separate business unit for sure,” said CEO John Chen on a Thursday earnings call. “That has been decided,” he said, though he hasn't decided on the organizational plan “going forward.” With the FTC having cleared the transaction with a Hart-Scott-Rodino early termination notice (see 1812130063), BlackBerry and Cylance await the comment and review period ending late January on the joint voluntary notice they filed at the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., said Chen. He expects the deal will close “shortly after,” he said.