Second.
Apparently, I'm not the only one who has some doubts about the Peoplesoft/Oracle aquisition. From the weekly ARC newsletter, ARCWire, sent to me via email today:
ARC Vice President John Moore says, "This is obviously a pre-emptive bid to thwart PeopoleSofts move to buy J.D. Edwards. The Oracle acquisition would hurt PeopleSoft Customers. Many of PeopleSofts senior management came from Oracle, and do not want to return."
Oracles offer of $16 a share, about a 6 percent premium over yesterdays closing stock price of $15.10, pushed trading in PeopleSoft stock to $18 on Friday, and Moore noted that "PeopleSoft had been trading for nearly $22 a share in January this year. Therefore, ARC believes that this is also not a good deal for PeopleSoft sharesholders."
ARC European Research Director Simon Bragg, says "Oracle clearly wont sell PeopleSoft solutions to new customers, but will develop scripts, etc., that enable Peoplesoft customers to upgrade to Oracles e-business suite. It is not good news for Peoplesoft customers, who have essentially chosen Peoplesoft and not Oracle or SAP. They are now forced to choose Oracle, unless SAP also develops low-cost migration solutions."
Ouch.