Intel Capital, the global investment arm of Intel, has become an investor in virtualization software maker VMware. The company will invest $218.5 million in VMware’s Class A common stock, subject to customary regulatory approval.
Ultimately, Intel Capital will own about 2.5 percent of VMware’s outstanding common stock. What’s more, an Intel executive is expected to be appointed to VMware’s board of directors.
“Intel’s investment is intended to foster strengthened inter-company collaboration towards accelerating VMware virtualization product adoption on Intel architecture and reinforcing the value of virtualization technology for customers,” said the companies in a joint statement.
VMware is a leading provider of virtualization products for Intel-based computers that is making its first foray into the Macintosh market with VMware Fusion, a competitor to Parallels Desktop for Mac that’s currently in late development. The software enables Intel-based Macs to run Windows and other x86-compatible operating systems alongside Mac OS X. Fusion went “release candidate” last week.