Sun to buy SevenSpace

SAN FRANCISCO: Sun Microsystems Inc. has agreed to acquire closely held SevenSpace Inc., adding to Sun's managed services offerings, the network computer maker said.

Sun did not disclose the cash amount it agreed to pay Ashburn, Virginia-based SevenSpace. It expects to complete the purchase by the third quarter of Sun's 2005 fiscal year, ending March 27, 2005.

SevenSpace's outsourcing technology manages business software programs, including those from SAP AG, Oracle Corp., PeopleSoft Inc., and Siebel Systems Inc., as well as databases from Oracle, and operating systems such as Sun's Solaris version of the Unix operating systems, Microsoft Corp.'s Windows and Linux.

Santa Clara, California-based Sun said that SevenSpace has more than 100 customers in such industries as financial services, government, manufacturing and retail.

Sun also said that it plans to offer SevenSpace's technology as part of its services offerings to its traditional markets, while also developing new service offerings with SevenSpace's products.

Upon closing, SevenSpace will be a part of Sun's services organization, which is run by Executive Vice President Marissa Peterson, the company said in a statement.

Shares of Sun rose 11 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $5.37 on the Nasdaq in midday trading.