January 16, 2008
Sun to Acquire MySQL
Eric J. Bruno
Open source database acquired by Sun
Sun announced today that it is acquiring MySQL AB, an open-source database developer, for about $1 billion. Sun said it was paying $800 million cash and assuming about $200 million in options in the acquisition.
MySQL is used in popular web sites by high-profile companies such as Facebook, Google, Nokia, and many others. In the announcement, Jonathan Schwartz said, "Today's acquisition reaffirms Sun's position at the center of the global Web economy. Supporting our overall growth plan, acquiring MySQL amplifies our investments in the technologies demanded by those driving extreme growth and efficiency, from Internet media titans to the world's largest traditional enterprises.
"MySQL's employees and culture, along with its near ubiquity across the Web, make it an ideal fit with Sun's open approach to network innovation. And most importantly, this announcement boosts our investments into the communities at the heart of innovation on the Internet and of enterprises that rely on technology as a competitive weapon."
The acquisition is expected to close in late Q3 of Sun's fiscal year, which is early in the second half of CY08. For Sun, this further cements them as an open-source software leader, clearly targeting the Web 2.0 world of developers.
