Leading email data solutions provider Return Path has acquired ThreatWave, a Colorado-based email data company that captures and processes billions of emails each month and parses these messages into a unique data source for email intelligence. This acquisition includes all data and technology assets, as well as the company’s talent and book of business.

In the short term, ThreatWave data will be integrated into Return Path’s current Email Optimization product suite, offering Return Path’s customers and partners a new level of insight around the root cause of many deliverability issues. This unique data set also creates the opportunity for new product development in the future.

“ThreatWave’s global email data provides unparalleled visibility into the threats facing the email ecosystem—spam traps, bad senders, and more,” said Matt Blumberg, Return Path CEO. “Through this acquisition, Return Path will be able to help marketers and email service providers to pinpoint which data sources, list acquisition practices, email programs, and customer segments are driving deliverability issues.”

The ThreatWave data stream will also be used to enhance Return Path’s Data Exchange, the world’s most comprehensive source of email data. Aggregating insights from more than 80 mailbox providers and 2 million consumer inboxes, the Data Exchange fuels Return Path’s suite of email optimization solutions and provides a unique, holistic perspective to help mailbox providers advance their products and services.

“ThreatWave derives its email data from a variety of unique and proprietary sources, making it distinct and complementary to our industry-leading Data Exchange,” continued Blumberg. “Combined, this new data set will offer our mailbox provider partners an unparalleled view of sender activity and potential threats.”

Going forward, ThreatWave will operate independently as ThreatWave, a Return Path company. They will continue servicing existing customers and selling data directly to new customers that fit their typical use cases.

“We are incredibly proud of the technology we’ve built, and we’re thrilled to find the right home for it,” said ThreatWave CEO and Return Path alum Tom Bartel. “We believe data is most valuable when it empowers users to solve significant business problems. With Return Path, we’ve found a partner to help us accelerate the impact and influence of our data.”

About Return Path

Return Path analyzes the world’s largest collection of email data to show businesses how to stay connected to their audiences and strengthen their customer engagement. Our data solutions help analysts understand consumer behavior and market trends. We help mailbox providers around the world deliver great user experiences and build trust in email by ensuring that wanted messages reach the inbox while spam doesn’t. To find out more about Return Path solutions, visit us at returnpath.com or request a demo.

About ThreatWave

ThreatWave is the leading provider of real-time email data intelligence feeds, fueling the Reputation, Security, and Marketing Intelligence communities. ThreatWave built a diverse email sensor network that processes billions of messages monthly, providing an unparalleled view into the email ecosystem. For more information or to trial data, visit us at threatwave.com.