Oracle’s dogged pursuit of PeopleSoft
was rewarded on December 13, 2004, as PeopleSoft’s board of
directors agreed to sell the company for $10.3 billion.
The announcement ended 18 months of tense legal battles and market
unrest that shook PeopleSoft.
Below is a look back at some of the key highlights in the fight to merge the business
application giants.
| internetnews.com’s Chronology of a Merger | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2, 2003 |
The merger between PeopleSoft and J.D. Edwards creates a business software giant. |
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| June 6, 2003 | Days after PeopleSoft’s J.D. Edwards purchase, Oracle offers to buy PeopleSoft for $5.1 billion. |
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| June 11, 2003 |
PeopleSoft reneges on plan to seek a temporary restraining order to slow Oracle’s advances. |
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| July 12, 2003 |
J.D. Edwards sues Oracle while PeopleSoft rejects Oracle’s takeover offer. |
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| June 14, 2003 |
PeopleSoft sues over Oracle’s takeover bid. |
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| June 20, 2003 |
The second in a string of rejections by PeopleSoft’s board over Oracle’s bid. |
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| June 30, 2003 |
The DoJ wants more information from Oracle about its PeopleSoft intentions. |
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| July 1, 2003 |
Oracle postpones its lawsuit against PeopleSoft after government inquiry. |
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| July 14, 2003 |
The DoJ grants PeopleSoft permission for J.D. Edwards buy. |
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| July 18, 2003 |
PeopleSoft closes J.D. Edwards purchase. |
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| October 2, 2003 |
DoJ may step in and thwart Oracle purchase attempt of PeopleSoft. |
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| January 26, 2004 |
Oracle proposes its own slate for PeopleSoft board. |
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| February 26, 2004 | DoJ files antitrust lawsuit to block Oracle’s PeopleSoft bid. |
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| March 2, 2004 |
Oracle denies asking Microsoft for help against DoJ’s antitrust suit. |
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| March 11, 2004 |
The mid-tier market becomes a concern for U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn R. Walker. |
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| April 1, 2004 |
European regulators get their shot at Oracle. |
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| May 21, 2004 |
Oracle, PeopleSoft CEOs to meet with officials to answer questions about the takeover bid. |
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| June 4, 2004 |
Oracle and the DoJ prepare for legal battle as court date draws near. |
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| June 24, 2004 |
Gates’ e-mail, which discusses a Microsoft stake in PeopleSoft, comes up for discussion in court. |
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| July 21, 2004 |
DoJ attempt to block Oracle’s takeover goes to the judge. |
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| September 9, 2004 | Judge declares Oracle free to buy PeopleSoft in blow to DoJ. |
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| October 1, 2004 |
PeopleSoft drops CEO Conway from helm. | ||
| October 26, 2004 |
Oracle’s European obstacle no more — EU clears the company to buy PeopleSoft. |
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| November 1, 2004 | Oracle increases its offer for PeopleSoft to $24 per share. |
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| November 10, 2004 | PeopleSoft board urges company to reject latest, and apparently final, Oracle offer. |
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| November 24, 2004 |
Judge postpones his decision on PeopleSoft’s fate for more information. |
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| November 25, 2004 | Oracle to nominate four members for PeopleSoft board to tip the balance in its direction. |
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| December 13, 2004 | PeopleSoft’s board agree to sell the farm for $10.3 billion. |
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