Oracle’sdogged pursuit of PeopleSoftwas 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. | ||
| June 6, 2003 | Days after PeopleSoft’s J.D. Edwards purchase, Oracle offers to buy PeopleSoft for $5.1 billion. | ||
| June 11, 2003 | PeopleSoft reneges on plan to seek a temporary restraining order to slow Oracle’s advances. | ||
| July 12, 2003 | J.D. Edwards sues Oracle while PeopleSoft rejects Oracle’s takeover offer. | ||
| June 14, 2003 | PeopleSoft sues over Oracle’s takeover bid. | ||
| June 20, 2003 | The second in a string of rejections by PeopleSoft’s board over Oracle’s bid. | ||
| June 30, 2003 | The DoJ wants more information from Oracle about its PeopleSoft intentions. | ||
| July 1, 2003 | Oracle postpones its lawsuit against PeopleSoft after government inquiry. | ||
| July 14, 2003 | The DoJ grants PeopleSoft permission for J.D. Edwards buy. | ||
| July 18, 2003 | PeopleSoft closes J.D. Edwards purchase. | ||
| October 2, 2003 | DoJ may step in and thwart Oracle purchase attempt of PeopleSoft. | ||
| January 26, 2004 | Oracle proposes its own slate for PeopleSoft board. | ||
| February 26, 2004 | DoJ files antitrust lawsuit to block Oracle’s PeopleSoft bid. | ||
| March 2, 2004 | Oracle denies asking Microsoft for help against DoJ’s antitrust suit. | ||
| March 11, 2004 | The mid-tier market becomes a concern for U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn R. Walker. | ||
| April 1, 2004 | European regulators get their shot at Oracle. | ||
| May 21, 2004 | Oracle, PeopleSoft CEOs to meet with officials to answer questions about the takeover bid. | ||
| June 4, 2004 | Oracle and the DoJ prepare for legal battle as court date draws near. | ||
| June 24, 2004 | Gates’ e-mail, which discusses a Microsoft stake in PeopleSoft, comes up for discussion in court. | ||
| July 21, 2004 | DoJ attempt to block Oracle’s takeover goes to the judge. | ||
| September 9, 2004 | Judge declares Oracle free to buy PeopleSoft in blow to DoJ. | ||
| 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. | ||
| November 1, 2004 | Oracle increases its offer for PeopleSoft to $24 per share. | ||
| November 10, 2004 | PeopleSoft board urges company to reject latest, and apparently final, Oracle offer. | ||
| November 24, 2004 | Judge postpones his decision on PeopleSoft’s fate for more information. | ||
| November 25, 2004 | Oracle to nominate four members for PeopleSoft board to tip the balance in its direction. | ||
| December 13, 2004 | PeopleSoft’s board agree to sell the farm for $10.3 billion. | ||