Oracle Buys Sun Microsystems

Deal would let IBM rule Unix server market

(NEWSER) - IBM looks set to buy rival Sun Microsystems in a $7 billion deal that would make IBM king of the lucrative Unix server market, the New York Times reports. The $9.50-per-share agreement, already approved by IBM’s board, insiders say, could be announced today—though next week is more probable. Sun is a top seller of server computers and a big name in software, but it’s been in a decade-long slump. More»

Oracle and Sun Microsystems may be only tip of the iceberg

(NEWSER) - Recent acquisitions by Sun Microsystems and Oracle could be the opening round of new Silicon Valley deal-making, the Wall Street Journal reports, as tech companies worried about a US economic slowdown seek to strengthen their positions. Smaller companies struggling to stay afloat are tempting targets; bigger fish also want to invest in building web-based software and services—a still-growing sector. More»

Chief exec was expected to step down after signals from Oracle CEO

(NEWSER) - Sun Microsystems CEO Jonathan Schwartz is going out in geeky style with a tweeted haiku resignation. Schwartz has been in the crosshairs publicly since the CEO of Oracle, which just acquired Sun, said last week that he expected Schwartz to step down, Mashable reports. “Today’s my last day at Sun. I’ll miss it,” he tweeted, before launching into his poetic offering. More»

(NEWSER) - IBM withdrew a $7 billion offer to buy Sun Microsystems this weekend after Sun's board called the bid too low, the Wall Street Journal reports. Sun also worried that IBM sought too much leeway to walk away from the deal if antitrust regulators challenged the merger, insiders say. People expected Sun to fetch around $11 per share, but as the company demanded an ironclad deal, IBM's offer sank to $9.40 per share. More»

(NEWSER) - IBM is in talks to buy Sun Microsystems, sources tell the Wall Street Journal, in a deal that could be completed as early as this week. IBM would likely dole out at least $6.5 billion for Sun, a premium of more than 100% on yesterday’s closing price. Sun has been shopping itself for months, getting shot down by HP, among others. IBM is hoping the move, potentially its biggest ever, would bolster its online business. More»