Security software vendor Websense Inc. on Thursday moved to acquire competitor SurfControl PLC, with a Websense subsidiary offering about US$400 million in cash for SurfControl.

Websense SC Operations Ltd. has offered to acquire the SurfControl, based in the U.K., for £7 (US$14.02) per share, for a total £201 million ($402.7 million), Websense announced Thursday.

Also Thursday, Doug Wride was named president of Websense, effective immediately. He will continue in his role as chief financial officer and lead the acquisition and integration of SurfControl. Wride will continue to report to Websense CEO Gene Hodges.

The combination of the two companies will create "an IT security solutions company with the scale and product offering to compete more effectively with large global security software companies," Hodges said in a prepared statement.

Both companies provide proactive network security software to head off potential phishing, spyware, virus and other threats to IT systems. SurfControl serves 16 million users globally and Websense serves 25 million.

Websense says the acquisition is expected to result in $60 million in cost savings and, although it will initially dilute Websense's earnings in the short term, it is expected to improve earnings in the 12 months after the deal closes, which is expected in about four months.

Websense posted net income of $32 million, or $3.85 per share, on revenue of $171.8 million in 2006.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.