United States v. Oracle Corporation

Overview

The United States District Court for the Northern District of California rejected the government’s challenge to the tender offer by Oracle Corporation to acquire PeopleSoft, Inc. The government alleged that such an acquisition would unduly restrain trade in this crucial area of software technology.

The Focal Point’s Role

The Focal Point worked closely with counsel for Oracle to prove that the government had failed to demonstrate that the Oracle/PeopleSoft combination would result in anticompetitive results. The Focal Point developed substantial material related to the relevant market and designed basic teaching tools that demonstrated why the acquisition would likely strengthen competition.