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IBM Plans to Acquire Texas Memory Systems

Company’s high-speed memory solutions to boost IBM’s Smarter Computing approach to IT

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Armonk, N.Y. - 16 Aug 2012: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Texas Memory Systems (TMS), a leading developer of high-performance flash memory solutions. TMS is a privately held company based in Houston, Texas. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 1978, TMS designs and sells high-performance solid state storage solutions. Unlike hard disk drives that rely on spinning disks and robotic arms, solid state systems are high-speed data storage solutions based on Flash or RAM memory that can provide significantly faster throughput and data access while consuming less power.

TMS offers its solid state solutions as the RamSan family of shared rackmount systems and Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) cards. The products are designed to help companies improve performance and reduce server sprawl, power consumption, cooling, and floor space requirements, all of which in turn can help clients save money, improve performance and invest more in innovation.

“The TMS strategy and solution set align well with our Smarter Computing approach to information technology by helping clients realize increased performance and efficiencies at lower costs,” said Brian Truskowski, general manager, Systems Storage and Networking, IBM. “Solid state technology, in particular, is a critical component of our new Smarter Storage approach to the design and deployment of storage infrastructures, and part of a holistic approach that exploits flash in conjunction with disk and tape technologies to solve complex problems.”

IDC estimates the amount of solid state storage solutions being shipped into the enterprise will grow significantly, reaching nearly 3 exabytes by 2016. (1)

Following acquisition close, IBM plans to invest in and support the TMS product portfolio, and will look to integrate over time TMS technologies into a variety of solutions including storage, servers, software, and PureSystems offerings.

“IBM understands the positive and dramatic impact that solid state technology can have on storage and server infrastructures, and once the acquisition is complete we look forward to advancing the technology even further. With the global reach of IBM, we expect to grow the engineering staff and product lines much faster than we could before,” said Holly Frost, founder and CEO of TMS.

TMS employs approximately 100 people. The deal is expected to close later in 2012.  

About TMS

TMS, headquartered in Houston, designs and sells solid state storage systems that accelerate demanding enterprise applications. Its award-winning RamSan product line has continually delivered fast, reliable, and economical solutions to a broad range of enterprise and government clients around the world.

For more information on TMS, please visit www.ramsan.com and follow us on twitter @TexasMemory. 

About IBM

For more information on IBM Storage, please visit www.ibm.com/storage and follow us on twitter @IBMStorage.  

IBM and the IBM logo are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. For a current list of IBM trademarks, please seewww.ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml. Other company, product or service names may be trademarks, or service marks of others.

Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements contained in this release may constitute ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, as discussed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

1.      According to IDC, Taking Enterprise Storage to Another Level: A Look at Flash Adoption in the Enterprise, Aug. 2012

TX Teacher Pension Buys Stake in Hedge Fund

Excerpt from an article in

The New York Times

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Texas Teacher Pension Buys Stake in Bridgewater Hedge Fund

By AZAM AHMED

The Teacher Retirement System of Texas just went from hedge fund investor to hedge fund owner.

Last month, the Texas pension took a $250 million stake in Bridgewater Associates, the giant money manager. Now, rather than plowing money into specific portfolios, it can claim a piece of the whole operation.

It is an unusual move for a pension. By investing directly in Bridgewater, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas can share in the upside return without paying the high costs. But the large state pension is also betting on the long-term viability of a firm whose fortunes are associated with a single enigmatic founder, Ray Dalio.

"They are essentially making a double bet in this particular firm," said Elizabeth B. Nesvold, managing partner at Silver Lane, an investment banking adviser that specializes in asset managers. "When you think about the downside, you get a double whammy."

Unlike many businesses, hedge funds are often closely linked to one person who has driven their success. SAC Capital has Steven A. Cohen; Pershing Square Capital Management, William A. Ackman.

But as the largest hedge funds mature, many founders want to sell stakes in the businesses they have built. In the last year, firms like Millennium Management, started by Israel Englander, and the Rock Creek Group have sought outside investors.

In addition to handsome paydays, hedge funds want to diversify their ownership base, in part to fund a more stable supply of capital.