Sun Microsystems has acquired Forte Software in a stock-for-stock merger valued at $540 million (#513.7 million). Forte brings a lot of programming expertise to Sun and a range of large-scale applications suited to deployment in big enterprises. The acquisition strengthens Sun's hand in the network computing space allowing it integrate more easily with existing platforms.

The deal is expected to have little impact on its Dublin based European software centre. More than 185 people are employed at the East Point Business Park site.