SAP CEO would consider merger with Oracle
published: cw 15, 2005 in Supply Chain Software, Mergers & acquisitionsThe chief executive of SAP AG, the world’s biggest maker of business software, told a German business magazine he’d be open to a merger with rival Oracle Corp. if company head Larry Ellison were to raise the idea.
“I would listen to him,” SAP CEO Henning Kagermann told German business weekly Wirtschaftswoche, published Thursday. The Walldorf-based company confirmed Kagermann’s remarks. Oracle spokesman Bob Wynne declined to comment Thursday. Kagermann said his company’s executives would consider any merger proposal, provided it was in the best interest of the software maker’s shareholders, something a German company is required by law to do.
Oracle and SAP are the world’s two leading makers of business applications software - the computer coding that automates a wide range of administrative tasks. SAP has long been the industry leader, but Oracle has recently been closing the gap with several high-profile acquisitions. Kagermann told the magazine that the company is also looking at new acquisitions, but didn’t cite any specific companies.
SAP shares fell 0.4 percent to euro119.00 (US$153.64) in Frankfurt trading. Oracle shares slipped less than 1 percent to US$12.25 (euro9.49) on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
source: ITB Supply Chain Knowledge Base
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