(Telecompaper) The security software providers Avast and AVG Technologies have agreed to merge. The deal will see Avast make an offer for AVG shares at USD 25 per share in cash, for a total consideration of USD 1.3 billion. Both companies were founded in the Czech Republic and have expanded internationally to cover a wide range of security applications. The merger will offer them more scale to build on the international growth and new opportunities such as the IoT. Together the two companies' products secure over 400 million endpoints, including 160 million mobile devices.