Oracle buys BEA Systems
ConvergenceAsia staff
17/01/2008

Enterprise software company Oracle and BEA Systems, an enterprise infrastructure software company, have entered into a definitive agreement under which Oracle will acquire all outstanding shares of BEA for US$19.375 per share in cash. The offer is valued at approximately $8.5 billion, or $7.2 billion net of BEA's cash on hand of $1.3 billion.

"The addition of BEA products and technology will significantly enhance and extend Oracle's Fusion middleware software suite," said Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. "Oracle Fusion middleware has an open "hot-pluggable" architecture that allows customers the option of coupling BEA's WebLogic Java Server to virtually all the components of the Fusion software suite."

This transaction will accelerate the adoption of Java-based middleware technologies and SOA, and advance innovation in enterprise applications infrastructure software, said Oracle President Charles Phillips. “It will also extend our strategic relationships with customers and partners, and increase our penetration in key regions like China.”

The transaction is anticipated to close by mid-2008, subject to BEA stockholder approval, certain regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

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