Oracle Buys Sun Microsystems – Gets Java & Solaris

In a development set to have a major impact on software development as we know it, Oracle has bought Sun Microsystems.

On April 20, 2009, Oracle announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Sun Microsystems (Sun). The acquisition combines best-in-class enterprise software and mission-critical computing systems. Oracle plans to engineer and deliver an integrated system—applications to disk—where all the pieces fit and work together so customers do not have to do it themselves. Customers benefit as their system integration costs go down while system performance, reliability and security go up.

In his letter to customers, Charles Philips, President Oracle says

Oracle’s ownership of two key Sun software assets, Java and Solaris, is expected to provide our customers with significant benefit. Java is one of the computer industry’s best known brands and most widely deployed technologies. Oracle Fusion Middleware is built on top of Sun’s Java language and software. Oracle can now ensure continued innovation and investment in Java technology for the benefit of customers and the Java community.

The acquisition FAQ says

How does Sun fit into Oracle’s overall strategy?
Oracle’s acquisition of Sun is consistent with our strategy to provide complete, open and integrated systems. Oracle and Sun’s products are based on open standards and, post-closing, Oracle plans to engineer a complete, integrated system – applications to disk – where all the pieces fit and work together so customers do not have to do it themselves. Customers benefit as their system integration costs go down, while system performance, reliability and security go up.

The acquisition presentation says

• Purchase price of $9.50 per share in cash
• Approximately $7.4 billion in equity value; $5.6 billion net of cash and debt