Symantec, Veritas Shareholders To Vote On Merger

Cupertino, Calif.-based Symantec reported the meeting Thursday when it announced that the Securities and Exchange Commission declared effective the company's Form S-4 Registration/Joint Proxy statement on the merger agreement. Stockholders of record as of May 12 will be eligible to vote at the special meetings. A joint proxy statement/prospectus on the merger is slated to be mailed next week.

The meetings will be held at Symantec's Cupertino and Veritas' Mountain View, Calif., offices. Symantec said both companies expect to close the merger "soon after" the meetings, should they receive the necessary shareholder approvals.

Symantec and Veritas unveiled their $13.5 billion merger deal last December. Executives from both companies said the combined entity -- to operate under the Symantec name -- will benefit from the synergy of Symantec's security software and Veritas' storage management applications. That combination will enable VARs to sell broader infrastructure solutions to their customers.

Plans call for Symantec Chairman and CEO John Thompson to retain his title in the merged company. Veritas Chairman and CEO Gary Bloom will become vice chairman and president.