We're still in the chase, says Oracle's Larry Ellison

An acrimonious three-way struggle in the business software market - between Oracle, Peoplesoft and JD Edwards - is nearing its endgame.

Peoplesoft announced that US regulators had granted permission for its $1.8bn (�1.1bn) takeover of JD Edwards, and that the deal could now be completed by as early as Thursday.

But at the same time, the much larger Oracle said that its $6.3bn hostile bid for Peoplesoft was being extended until mid-August.

"We remain fully committed to acquiring Peoplesoft, with or without JD Edwards," an Oracle spokesman said.

Waved through

US regulators had been mildly concerned over the competition implications of the JD Edwards takeover.

But the decision to wave it through, analysts said, was based on the opinion that JD Edwards and Peoplesoft are in different segments of the same broad enterprise software category.

Analysts remain much more concerned about the antitrust aspects of an Oracle purchase of Peoplesoft, since the two companies are direct competitors.

The JD Edwards takeover now seems like a done deal, although there is still the possibility that Oracle's determined pursuit of Peoplesoft could derail it.

Bitter battle

The struggle between Oracle and Peoplesoft has been one of the most aggressive in recent history.

Peoplesoft chief executive Craig Conway and Oracle boss Larry Ellison have traded personal insults, and both sides allege unfair propaganda in the battle for investor loyalty.

The outcome is still anybody's guess, although the slight majority of analysts seem to favour an Oracle victory.

Oracle currently claims to have 11% of Peoplesoft shares already on its side.