Mergers, Acquisitions, Alliances and Synergies Case Study

Case Title:

Oracle PeopleSoft Saga

Abstract:
Oracle’s acquisition of PeopleSoft in December was culmination of a 18 month saga that started in June 2003. To many, Oracle’s bid was seen as its response to the PeopleSoft - JD Edwards’s merger that put PeopleSoft above Oracle as a number two player in the market behind SAP. Oracle had to overcome a number of hurdles in its path Not many seemed convinces about the rationale behind the merger and felt that it may not be workable. Speculations abound on how the acquisition would take shape and the resulting impact on the software industry.

Pedagogical Objectives:

• Oracle’s strategy of acquisitions with particular reference to PeopleSoft
• Mergers and acquisition in the software industry
• The impact of the acquisition on Oracle and PeopleSoft
• The future of products developed by PeopleSoft and JD Edwards
• Oracles’ future strategies.

Keywords : Mergers,Acquisitions,Alliances Case Study;Oracle PeopleSoft; Business Strategy; Software Industry; Mergers and Acquisitions; Product Strategy; Switching Costs; HR Issues in Mergers and Acquisitions; Enterprise Application Software; Oracle vs. SAP; Regulatory issues in mergers and acquisitions; JD Edwards; Larry Ellison; Organisational culture; Software upgrades