Critical Path, Inc.

Last updated
Critical Path, Inc.
Company type Privately held company
Industry Software
Founded1997
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
ProductsMobile 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

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

  1. 1 2 “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.
  2. “Critical Path Acquired By Openwave Messaging”, Silicon Tap, San Jose, CA, 5 December 2013. Retrieved on 5 December 2013.
  3. “Marlin Equity Partners seals Critical Path deal”, Thomson Reuters, New York, NY, 5 December 2013. Retrieved on 5 December 2013.
  4. "Synchronoss Technologies to Acquire Openwave Messaging" . Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  5. "The search continues for David Colby Hayden". mtexpress.com. 2019-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  6. "Critical Errors at Critical Path". BusinessWeek.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
  7. "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.
  8. Chris Nolan. "Inside Look: Critical Path Suits". Wired. Wired.com. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
  9. "Critical Path executives leave, lawsuits pile up - CNET News". News.cnet.com. 2001-02-13. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
  10. "Complaint: SEC v. David A. Thatcher and Timothy J. Ganley". Sec.gov. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
  11. "Former execs of SF's Critical Path software company sentenced". SFGate. 2004-01-14. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
  12. 1 2 "Critical Path Goes Private". silicontap.com. 2007-12-06. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
  13. "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.
  14. "Mirapoint and Critical Path to Merge". October 19, 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2013.