VeriSign Buys 2 Firms

VeriSign Inc., a maker of Internet-security software, agreed to buy two closely held software companies for $1.3 billion in stock to expand its products used in electronic commerce. VeriSign said it will buy Redwood Shores, Calif.-based Signio Inc., which makes software that links online retailers to payment-processing companies, for stock valued at $733.3 million. VeriSign also bought Thawte Consulting of South Africa for stock valued at $575 million. Like VeriSign, Thawte makes software for computerized IDs, which keep online purchases and messages safe and private. Shares of Mountain View, Calif.-based VeriSign rose $19.19 to close at $150.13 on Nasdaq.