It appears that Apple is buying mobile and network security provider AuthenTec.

9to5Mac points to an SEC filing shared by Reuters, which says:

On July 26, 2012, AuthenTec, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Apple Inc., a California corporation (“Parent”), and Bryce Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), providing for the merger of Merger Sub into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. The Merger Agreement was unanimously approved by the Company’s Board of Directors.

At the effective time of the Merger, each share of Company common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time (other than shares (i) held by the Company in treasury, (ii) owned directly or indirectly, by any of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Parent, or Merger Sub or any other direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, or (iii) held by stockholders who have perfected and not withdrawn a demand for appraisal rights under Delaware law) will be automatically cancelled and converted into the right to receive $8.00 in cash, without interest.

The acquisition will run Apple a reported $356 million.

AuthenTec’s products include Smart Sensors, TouchChips, identity management and embedded security.

“AuthenTec encryption technology, fingerprint sensors and identity management software are deployed by the leading mobile device, networking and computing companies, content and service providers, and governments worldwide,” the company says in its About section. “AuthenTec’s products and technologies provide security on hundreds of millions of devices, and the Company has shipped more than 100 million fingerprint sensors for integration in a wide range of portable electronics including over 15 million mobile phones.”

This is likely a patent grab for Apple, above all else, as AuthenTec holds a reported 200 patents.