(Telecompaper) F5 Networks has agreed to acquire fraud prevention specialist Shape Security for USD 1 billion, subject to certain adjustments. Under the deal, F5 will buy all of the shares of privately held Shape and then incorporate the company's machine learning and AI-powered capabilities into its portfolio of application services. F5 noted that the transaction will accelerate its growth momentum and more than double its addressable market in security. F5 CEO Francois Locoh-Donou explained: the companies will together deliver end-to-end application protection and that their combined technologies will open up a "fast-growing USD 4 billion adjacent market."