In a regulatory filing released Thursday, mobile tech security developer AuthenTec Inc. revealed that the company is being acquired by Apple.
The deal, which is valued at $356 million, will give Apple control of leading fingerprint identification technology that now seems inbound for Apple’s iDevice line, especially as the company rapidly embraces mobile payments and electronic wallet solutions.
On the NASDAQ exchange this morning, Authentic shares popped 63 percent on news of the acquisition.
According to Reuters, Apple is yet to publicly comment on the purchase or its plans for the technology.
AuthenTec, which was spun off from Harris Semiconductor in 1998 and went public in 2007, provides mobile security software licenses to companies like Apple’s arch rival Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) and provides fingerprint sensor technology to computer makers such as HP and Dell Inc.
No word on how and when the companies will integrate technologies or team leaders.