Abstract

This is the fourth of a four-case series. On 26 October 2004, the EC ruled that Oracle could proceed with its bid for PeopleSoft. Even after the EC's decision, PeopleSoft continued to maintain its vehement opposition to the Oracle bid and made it clear that it wants to remain independent. With the final hurdle falling, on 1 November 2004, Oracle raised its bid to $8.8 billion, or $24 a share. On 13 December 2004, PeopleSoft finally accepted a $10 billion offer from Oracle. In the combined company, employee disenchantment continues to be high. Done amidst much bad blood and war of words, many analysts wonder how this merger will work. This part of the case discusses the events from October 2004 to January 2005.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

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Keywords

Oracle, PeopleSoft, Acquisition, Strategy, Enterprise software, Business applications, JD Edwards, Larry Ellison, Software industry