| Fate | acquired |
|---|---|
| Successor | Computer Associates |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Location |  USA |
| Industry | Software development |
| Products | Software |
| Key people | Sterling Williams, founder |
Sterling Software is a no longer existing American software company founded by Sterling Williams; the co-founder was Sam Wyly.[1] The company was acquired by Computer Associates in 2000.[2][3] It is best known for its aggressive acquisitions most notably the hostile take-over of Informatics General Inc, in 1985. Informatics was one of the first established software and services companies. It developed the MARK-IV Fourth-generation programming language in the 1960s. MARK-IV became the first software package exceeding USD 1 million in revenue, after IBM was forced in 1969 to unbundle software from their hardware. Helped by wise financing and counseled by Werner Frank, one of Informatics co-founder, who had left this company a year before, Sterling Software started the hostile take over by offering to shareholders an interesting price per share and increasing it slowly until Informatics board was no longer able to reject it. Overnight, Sterling Software became a USD 200 million in revenue company up from USD20M. After only 2 years, they started again acquiring new companies. [4] Acquired Informatics in 1985.[5] Acquired KnowledgeWare in 1994.[6] Acquired the Software Division from Texas Instruments in 1997, including the rights to IEF.[7] Acquired Cayenne Software in 1998.[8] Acquired Interlink Computer Sciences in 1999.
References
- ^ Sterling Software filing with the SEC, Form:10-K/A, filing date: January 26, 1994
- ^ Computer Associates International, Inc filing with the SEC, Form:425, COMPUTER ASSOCIATES TO ACQUIRE STERLING SOFTWARE, filing date: February 14, 2000
- ^ [http://sec.edgar-online.com/2001/02/07/0000356028-01-000001/Section7.asp Computer Associates International, Inc. filing with the SEC, Form:10-Q], Note B - Acquisitions, filing date: February 7, 2001
- ^ Desmond, John (June 1991). Cautiously approaching client/server computing - Sterling Software Inc.'s Systems Software Group. Software Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-08-29.
- ^ Informatics acquisition. Computer.org.
- ^ Sterling Software Finished Deal For Knowledgeware
- ^ Sterling to Buy Texas Instruments Unit
- ^ Sterling software announces agreement to purchase Cayenne Software
External links
- Going in for the CA kill - interview with Sam Wyly.
- Biography of Sam Wyly
