Sun Buys MySQL for $1 Billion
January 17, 2008
CNET reports that Sun Microsystems is about to buy MySQL AB, developer of open source database management system MySQL, for 1 billion dollars: $800 million in cash for MySQL’s privately held stock and another $200 million in options.
Until now, Sun has been endorsing MySQL’s competitor, PostgreSQL, but now they’re after the big fish. MySQL is one of the most successful open source projects ever, and MySQL AB has over 360 employees in over 25 countries. The deal comes somewhat unexpected as rumor had it that MySQL AB was about to go the IPO route.
In a post somewhat cheesily entitled “Helping dolphins fly“, Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz says Sun will begin offering support for MySQL before the deal closes, which should happen later this year.
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