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Oracle is Still Buying: Anyone Surprised?

One of Oracle's deal makers, Vishal Bhagwati, has confirmed what has been obvious for quite some time: Oracle is going to keep buying software companies. His comments should be taken for what they really are: an affirmation of a strategy that Oracle has been stating loud and clear for some time.
Written by Joshua Greenbaum, Contributor

One of Oracle's deal makers, Vishal Bhagwati, has confirmed what has been obvious for quite some time: Oracle is going to keep buying software companies. His comments should be taken for what they really are: an affirmation of a strategy that Oracle has been stating loud and clear for some time. Oracle has been saying ever since the PeopleSoft deal closed that it will acquire companies in order to plug in holes in its horizontal or vertical strategies, and so it has. The company has made over 20 deals -- acquisitions or equity positions -- in the last few years, and even maintains a web page to help the market (including, I'm sure, its own employees) sort through the mess.

Had Bhagwati given us any indication of what kind of companies Oracle was going to buy, that might have merited a major headline or two (as well as a visit from the SEC to make sure disclosure rules weren't violated.) But even that strategy has been articulated relatively clearly: Oracle will buy where it can do most damage to SAP, which means acquiring technology and functionality in areas where SAP is weakest. So don't expect Oracle to jump into oil and gas services, where SAP is the market leader. But more in markets such as retail and financial services, which are definitely up for grabs, would make sense. 

So, pardon my yawn, but an Oracle exec saying his going on a buying spree is like a successful betting man heading for the races. What you really want to know is what he plans to do when he gets there -- you already know full well where he's headed. 

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