It appears the Israel-based NSO Group—a notorious peddler of powerfully invasive spyware—has been purchased by an American company. The news was first reported by Israeli outlet Calcalist and confirmed by TechCrunch .

NSO, which is best known for its phone-hacking malware Pegasus , has been at the center of surveillance scandals for years. An investor group led by Hollywood producer Robert Simonds is the new owner of the hack-for-hire firm, according to Calcalist. The deal, which is said to be worth “several tens of millions of dollars,” is expected to be finalized “in the coming days, though its completion will require approval from Israel’s Defense Export Control Agency (DECA) at the Ministry of Defense,” the outlet writes.

NSO spokesperson Oded Hershowitz reportedly told TechCru

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