Oracle
According to the Associated Press, Oracle head Larry Ellison said, "the second-largest U.S. software company after Microsoft
When he wasn't referring to his company in the third person, or clarifying its position relative to Microsoft, Ellison was shooting down the possibility that beleagueredSun Microsystems
So, which companies, then, might Oracle be looking to snap up? Siebel Systems
To discover others, Ellison's past proclamations about his competitors may prove prescient. Back in a January 2003 interview with Barron's, Ellison had lots to say about other software companies.
He characterized Siebel and I2 Technologies
Ellison did say at that time, though, that BEA Systems
No one can say if Ellison will decide to go after BEA despite its price, or perhaps rescue one of Oracle's drowning peers. This is a guy full of surprises, after all, as evidenced by the hostile PeopleSoft bid. Still, with Oracle articulating its growth strategy as one that's contingent upon acquisitions, we'll be in a better position to know what to expect from it in the future.
LouAnn Lofton owns shares of Microsoft.