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Informix to Acquire Distributed eBusiness Pioneer Cloudscape, Inc.; Cloudscape Technology Extends Informix's Leadership in the Software Foundation for the i.Economy
MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 1999--In a bold move that extends its technology leadership in providing the software foundation for the i.Economy, Informix(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:IFMX), today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Cloudscape(TM) Inc., the leading provider of synchronized database solutions for the remote and occasionally connected workforce.
With this acquisition, Informix extends its technology leadership to the rapidly growing market for distributed eBusiness applications, including distributed e-commerce, collaborative supply chain management and distributed content management.
Informix, the technology leader in database powered enterprise solutions, will allocate 10 million shares of Informix common stock for issuance in exchange for all of Cloudscape's outstanding stock and options. The transaction will be structured as a pooling of interests for accounting purposes, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter.
The combination of Cloudscape's data management system, sophisticated application and data synchronization technology, and one-click deployment and refresh capabilities with Informix's leading enterprise database platform creates a market leading solution for distributed eBusiness.
"Winning in the i.Economy(TM) requires collaborative business processes, and this demands support for applications that span distributed, virtual organizations," said Jean-Yves Dexmier, president and chief executive officer of Informix. "The combination of Informix Internet Foundation.2000(TM) with Cloudscape's portable database and synchronization technologies creates the only solution that exploits the power of the Internet to address the market requirements for distributed eBusiness."
"The market for distributed applications is experiencing explosive growth," said Tom Henn, president and chief executive officer of Cloudscape. "The combination of Cloudscape and Informix provides a data management platform that spans the enterprise to the distributed desktop, and extends Cloudscape's market reach worldwide."
Based on patent-pending technology, Cloudscape is written in 100% Pure Java(TM) and supports lower cost of ownership for applications that are distributed and occasionally connected. Full object relational functionality, sophisticated application and data synchronization technology, and zero client administration allow developers to build robust applications that deliver unparalleled performance and ease of use to consumers and other non-technical users.
The Cloudscape platform has received broad attention from the press and market analysts and industry plaudits from Java Development Journal, Java World, Upside magazine and Venture One. This acquisition has received the endorsement of leading Internet hardware and software vendors.
"Informix and Cloudscape share Sun's vision of the exciting business transformations being brought about by the dot-com economy," said Ed Zander, president and chief operating officer of Sun Microsystems, Inc. "The market is clearly moving to distributed Web-based applications and Java is the defacto standard for the Web. The combination of Informix Internet Foundation.2000 with the Cloudscape Java technology creates a unique and powerful platform for the development of eBusiness applications."
"The key to satisfying the needs of the eBusiness market is to create the right infrastructure," said Bill Coleman, chairman and chief executive officer of BEA Systems, Inc. "BEA has been working with both Cloudscape and Informix to develop infrastructure solutions for eBusiness. Cloudscape's portable Java database and Informix's strong enterprise offerings are key pieces of a solid e-commerce foundation."
About Cloudscape, Inc.
Cloudscape, Inc. provides a 100% Pure Java SQL data management system and application synchronization to address the stringent data management demands of eBusiness. Cloudscape's products are the first to allow companies to create sophisticated synchronized applications that can be deployed cost-effectively outside the firewall to partners, customers and mobile workers.
Cloudscape software is currently in use at more than 250 sites worldwide. Cloudscape Systems, Inc., founded in 1996 by a team of experts from Informix, Illustra, Oracle and Sybase, currently employs a staff of over 50 in its Oakland, Calif. headquarters. For more information, please visit the Cloudscape Web site at www.cloudscape.com.
About Informix
Informix Corporation, based in Menlo Park, provides innovative database solutions that assist the world's major corporations to attain competitive advantage. Informix is widely recognized as the technology leader for corporate computing environments ranging from small workgroups to very large parallel processing applications.
Informix's database server, application development tools, superior customer service, and strong partnerships enable the company to be at the forefront of major information technology solution areas including data warehousing, high performance OLTP, and Web/e-commerce. For more information, contact the sales office nearest you or visit our Web site at www.informix.com.
This public announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or anticipated results. Investors and potential investors should review carefully the description of the risks and uncertainties which, together with other detailed information about Informix Corporation, is contained in the periodic reports that the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the intense competition in the RDBMS industry and the effect of the competition on the pricing of the Company's products; rapid changes in the RDBMS industry due to evolving technological standards; the effect of potential or actual slower growth in the RDBMS market on sales of the Company's products; the Company's dependence upon proprietary technology; fluctuations in quarterly results and the seasonality of the Company's business; the Company's dependence upon and ability to attract and retain qualified employees; the ability of the Company's senior management to meet the Company's business objectives and develop new business; the Company's international operations and foreign currency fluctuations; the ability of the Company to develop and market new products for which there is demand in the market; potential Year 2000 problems with the Company's products or internal operating systems; and the pending private securities litigation and the investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
This public announcement contains information that is accurate as of September 15, 1999, the date of the public announcement. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or correct the information as a result of financial, business or any other developments occurring after September 15, 1999.
Note to Editors: The following are trademarks of Informix Corporation or its affiliates, one or more of which may be registered in the U.S. or other jurisdictions: Informix(R), Informix Internet Foundation.2000(TM) and Winning in the i.Economy(TM).
Informix news releases are available at no charge through Business Wire's NewsOnDemand fax service. To immediately receive an index of available releases, call 1-800-356-0851.
CONTACT:
Informix Corporation
Jaye Prosser, 650/926-6316 (Editorial)
jprosser@informix.com
Kate Patterson, 650/926-6809 (Investor Relations)
katep@informix.com
or
Miller Shandwick Technologies
Lisa Kelaita, 650/596-5800
lkelaita@miller.shandwick.com |
