Oracle Buys Pillar Data Systems

Oracle has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Pillar Data Systems, a leading provider of innovative and highly scalable SAN Block I/O storage systems that provide exceptional performance scaling characteristics with patented Quality of Service.

The combination is expected to help Oracle deliver a complete line of storage products that runs Oracle software faster and more efficiently.

Pillar Data Systems is a privately-held company based in San Jose, California and serves nearly 600 customers across 24 countries.

“The acquisition of Pillar Data Systems provides Oracle with a compelling SAN storage architecture that complements our core strengths,” said John Fowler, Executive Vice President of Systems at Oracle. “Customers can optimise the value of their Oracle applications, database, middleware and operating system software by running on Oracle’s storage solutions.”

“Pillar Data Systems has spent the last decade building truly world-class storage technologies,” said Mike Workman, Chairman and CEO, Pillar Data Systems. “We are excited to benefit from the scale and reach of Oracle to help continue to build innovative and optimised storage systems.”

Pillar Data Systems is majority owned by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. The evaluation and negotiation of the transaction was led by an independent committee of Oracle’s Board of Directors. The transaction is structured as a 100% earn-out with no up-front payment. Oracle does not expect that the amount of the earn-out or its potential impact will be material to Oracle’s results of operations or financial position. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in July 2011.