InfoWatch Group and Kaspersky Lab have announced their mutual decision to finalize the split-off of two businesses. In the near future, as agreed, Kaspersky Lab will sell the entire share it holds in InfoWatch (its former subsidiary) to Natalya Kaspersky.
Previously, in February 2012, Kaspersky Lab bought all its shares back from Natalya Kaspersky, its co-founder and former CEO. Thus, Natalya is no longer a shareholder of Kaspersky Lab. As a result of these stock deals, the companies will become independent from each other in terms of business and competitive relations.
In 1997, Natalya and Eugene Kaspersky together founded Kaspersky Lab that in 15 years made its way from a family business to one of the leading global security software vendors. Today, Kaspersky Lab has offices in almost 200 countries and protects over 300 million users.
In 2003, Kaspersky Lab started InfoWatch as an in-house project in order to develop Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions. In 2011, Natalya and Eugene Kaspersky decided to split off their companies in several stages. First, in summer 2011, Natalya resigned from her duties as Chairperson of the Board at Kaspersky Lab, handing over her position to Eugene Kaspersky, who has also been CEO of Kaspersky Lab ever since. Mutual stock buy-out will be the final stage of the split-off.
“Natalya and I built the company that is one of the four global leaders in IT security today,” said Eugene Kaspersky. “However, we are pursuing different product strategies now, and it’s time to part ways. I am thankful to have been partners with Natalya and wish her every success in future projects.”
Natalya Kaspersky, owner and CEO of InfoWatch, commented: “Once it was me who launched the sales of an outstanding antivirus solution. Over the last 18 years, we have built a company, had great success in the domestic and international markets, established a partner network, and developed a wide range of products. However, being a person of action, I prefer to build business in line with my own vision. Since Eugene and I have different views now, I do not see myself at Kaspersky Lab anymore, but plan to evolve InfoWatch holding, while maintaining friendly relations with Kaspersky Lab team.”
