Although the names may not mean much to everyday consumer computer users, in the technology industry they just don’t get a lot bigger than this: database giant Oracle has agreed to acquire the floundering computer and software maker Sun Microsystems for some $7.4 billion, paying $9.50 per share of Sun in cash. The acquisition comes after tech giant IBM withdrew its offer for Sun earlier this month after Sun refused to deal with IBM exclusively as a takeover part; IBM and Sun had been in takeover negotiations since at least mid-March.
