RALEIGH, N.C. — “Red Hat is still Red Hat.”
Those are the words of CEO Jim Whitehurst, writing in an email sent to employees of the open source software company Tuesday, July 9, just minutes after the deal that turned Red Hat blue closed: IBM’s $34 billion buyout of the Raleigh-based open source software company.
Execs were swift to go back over the talking points – claiming in emails and Q&As that Red Hat will maintain its identity – even under a Big Blue umbrella.
And that's particularly important, as analysts have said the deal's value lies in the retention of Red Hatters.
In his letter to employees, Whitehurst said the promise he and IBM CEO Ginni Rometty made at the deal announcement “has not changed.”
“In fact, our commitment to that vision has grown – Red Hat will remain a distinct unit in IBM as we work to help customers deliver any app, anywhere realizing the true value of the hybrid cloud,” he writes. “This morning, we can share that the most significant tech acquisition of 2019 has officially closed and we can now begin moving forward.”
