Editors' Picks

Should Oracle's takeover bid worry customers?

Editors' picks

Oracle's attempt to acquire PeopleSoft has been one of the more acrimonious in recent memory. Part of the reason is the personalities involved: the swashbuckling Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle, and the proud Craig Conway, who once worked for Ellison but now leads PeopleSoft. Worried about their jobs should Oracle succeed, PeopleSoft employees have been outspoken against the merger. In addition, IT buyers are concerned that their million-dollar investments in PeopleSoft products could be in jeopardy should Oracle take the company over.
September 21, 2004

Customers

PeopleSoft customers are among those who have watched Oracle's takeover bid unfold with a close eye. Now that the waiting is over, those companies will have to re-evaluate their million-dollar investments in software that may be obsolete in a few short years.

CNET News.com PeopleSoft's last hurrah?
Forbes Conway: PeopleSoft customers fear Oracle 'elephant'
CNET News.com Economist: Oracle-SAP duopoly would hurt market
Tri-Valley Herald Oracle buy may cost IBM
ComputerWeekly.com Oracle chats up PeopleSoft customers

Investors

Wall Street appears to be giving its blessing to the merger. On news of the announcement, PeopleSoft stock was trading up, close to Oracle's buying price of $26.50 per share. Also on Monday, Oracle boasted a 57 percent increase in its applications business for the last quarter, compared with the previous year.

CNET News.com PeopleSoft flap may be hurting Oracle's image
CNET News.com What ails Oracle?
BusinessWeek Winning PeopleSoft Is the Easy Part
Forbes Oracle fails to inspire tech rally
Forbes PeopleSoft in a corner after decision

Employees

The possibility of a merger has been a top story in the software business for more than a year, but it's taken on a personal dimension in PeopleSoft's hometown of Pleasanton, Calif. As the city's largest employer, taxes and the incomes of many neighboring businesses are at stake. With emotions running high, you'd almost expect to see Larry Ellison's photo in the local post office.

Tri-Valley Herald PeopleSoft ruling rattles city leaders
CNET News.com PeopleSoft sweetens severance packages
CNET News.com PeopleSoft aims to keep worker morale high

Competitors

SAP, once called the third major player in an oligopoly ruling the market, has benefitted from the uncertainty surrounding its two key competitors. Now that the merger is all but complete, the company expects its good fortune to continue as questions remain as to how the takeover will unfold.

CNET News.com A 'Plan B' for PeopleSoft customers
Contra Costa Times PeopleSoft speculation spreads
CIOL.com SAP: Thank you, Larry
BusinessWeek Software makers: Soon they'll be fewer
CNET News.com Oracle ruling highlights complexity of market
CNET News.com Ellison: 'Radical' industry shift drove bid

Videos

Oracle CEO provides details on embattled PeopleSoft merger
In a taped deposition, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison answers questions about his company's plans to acquire PeopleSoft. He explains why Oracle picked PeopleSoft over other companies and why he thinks it will help him compete against Microsoft.

Ellison confident about PeopleSoft buy
Oracle CEO Larry Ellison says at OracleWorld in San Francisco that he is confident he can gain government support for acquiring PeopleSoft as early as next month.

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PSFT Customers get more from Oracle

Gitussi Milano
Sep 22, 2004, 11:58 AM PDT

No winners except SAP

Tex Murphy PI
Sep 22, 2004, 8:23 AM PDT