Verisign – “VeriSign core businesses stable and retained; all else up for grabs”

Pros

We serve a set of core problems that few companies can touch in scale or impact, so the work is always relevant and exciting. We deliver services that are central to allowing customers, worldwide, to transact (message, call, browse, etc.). We are always keeping a step ahead of emerging technologies and services to ensure that they work well between all carriers and customers.

Cons

Currently, HUGE spin-off and reorganization, so that the future is very uncertain and several businesses are being broken up and sold off. VeriSign is selling off 12 of its 15 current business units. The M&A cycle (like credit market in the US) went too far in one direction, and now VeriSign is getting back to their knitting ... and nothing else.

Advice to Senior Management

Provide lots of communication to all BUs through the transition.
Treat the divested BUs with fairness and respect (e.g., in raises, so that divested BUs are not, suddenly, the poor stepchild).