BlackBerry Acquired WatchDox, To Set-up R&D Center in Israel?

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BlackBerry seemed to have made their latest acquisition with the file sync and share platform, WatchDox. The deal is worth approximately between US$150-200 Million, and was apparently signed earlier this week. With that, BlackBerry will also open its first R&D center in Israel, where WatchDox is based.
Update: Seems like BlackBerry has confirmed it! BlackBerry is expected to confirm the acquisition in the coming hours so stay tuned for the formal announcement, if its true.

What is WatchDox?
It is a platform for enterprises where employees can sync and share files across many devices, but at the same time, allowing the enterprise or admins to monitor who is viewing, sharing, scanning and printing a file. The creator of the file can also put a time limit on access to the file. With everything encrypted, it ensures that the files are kept secure except for the authorized personals.

Why WatchDox?
WatchDox has close to USD$10 million in annual revenue and has customers that includes over 150 of the Fortune 1000, including the largest civilian federal agencies, 6 of the top 12 private equity firms and most of the 6 major Hollywood studios.

WatchDox is founded in 2008 by CEO Moti Rafalin and VP products Noam Livnat. Having raised $35 million to date from Shlomo Kramer (the company’s chairman), Gemini Israel Ventures, Shasta Ventures, MTVP, Blackstone, and other private investors, its shareholders, includes Mickey Boodaei and Rakesh Loonkar, who together with Kramer founded Trusteer, which was sold to IBM for $700 million in August 2013.

via Globes

Update: BlackBerry has officially confirmed it!

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