Critical Path, Inc.
 | |
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Fate | Acquired by Openwave (December 4, 2013)[1] |
| Headquarters | Dublin, Ireland |
Key people | Mark Palomba, CEO and Chairman Tim Noel, CFO Barry Twohig, EVP of Engineering |
| Products | Mobile Software Messaging Software Anti-Abuse Software Identity Management Software |
| Revenue | $66.963 million USD (2005) |
Number of employees | 331 |
Critical Path was a provider of messaging services, working with mobile operators, telecommunications companies, ISPs, and enterprises. It was acquired on December 4, 2013 by Openwave Messaging.[1][2][3] On March 2, 2016, it was announced that Synchronoss Technologies agreed to acquire Openwave Messaging.[4]
History
[edit]Critical Path, Inc. was founded in 1997 by David C. Hayden[5] and Wayne de Geere III[6] as a provider of outsourced email service to ISPs. In 1998 they hired a new CEO, Doug Hickey and acquired Usenet provider Supernews. The company went public on March 29, 1999. The IPO was covered favorably by the trade press at the time.[7] In early 2001, nearly two years after their IPO, a series of lawsuits against Critical Path were filed over hiring practices, accounting irregularities, and securities fraud,[8][9] culminating in a management shakeup and SEC action against the company's President, David Thatcher, and other executives.[10] Thatcher and two others pleaded guilty and were sentenced to jail terms from three months to one year.[11] In 2005 their stock was delisted by Nasdaq.[12]
In 2007 the company went private[12] and in 2008 sold Supernews to Giganews.[13]
In October 2010, Critical Path and Mirapoint, a secure enterprise messaging company, announced their decision to merge.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b “Openwave Messaging Makes Add-On Play for Critical Path” Archived 2013-12-13 at the Wayback Machine, Dow Jones, New York, NY, 5 December 2013. Retrieved on 5 December 2013.
- ^ “Critical Path Acquired By Openwave Messaging”, Silicon Tap, San Jose, CA, 5 December 2013. Retrieved on 5 December 2013.
- ^ “Marlin Equity Partners seals Critical Path deal”, Thomson Reuters, New York, NY, 5 December 2013. Retrieved on 5 December 2013.
- ^ "Synchronoss Technologies to Acquire Openwave Messaging". Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "The search continues for David Colby Hayden". mtexpress.com. 2019-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
- ^ "Critical Errors at Critical Path". BusinessWeek.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ "Losing a Virtual Fortune - Page 2 - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 2002-05-02. Archived from the original on May 9, 2013. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ Chris Nolan. "Inside Look: Critical Path Suits". Wired. Wired.com. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ "Critical Path executives leave, lawsuits pile up - CNET News". News.cnet.com. 2001-02-13. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ "Complaint: SEC v. David A. Thatcher and Timothy J. Ganley". Sec.gov. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ "Former execs of SF's Critical Path software company sentenced". SFGate. 2004-01-14. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ a b "Critical Path Goes Private". silicontap.com. 2007-12-06. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ "S.F.-Based Critical Path Sells SuperNews Usenet Business to Giganews". Silicon Valley Wire. 2008-03-07. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ "Mirapoint and Critical Path to Merge". October 19, 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2013.