Is A Weakening Economy Behind The Oracle-BEA Deal?
Written by Evan SchumanJanuary 17th, 2008
When Oracle got BEA this week to agree to an $8.5 billion buyout–significantly lower than what BEA had been insisting on–is it further evidence of rough economic waters ahead?
Oracle’s ability to negotiate a $19.38 share price (BEA had been insisting on $21/share) is the work of both investor Carl Icahn and “increasing fears that a slowing U.S. economy could damp global spending by businesses on technology, adding to the financial pressures on small vendors trying to remain independent,” according to this thought-and-fear-provoking Wall Street Journal story.