Waltham, MA (June 10, 2003) – Kinetic Information LLC today released a list of possible “White Knight” organizations that could acquire PeopleSoft to preclude a takeover by Oracle, and enhance their own businesses as well. According to the company, likely White Knights would have to be sufficiently large to digest a company the size of PeopleSoft, and have sufficient interest in obtaining or expanding its seat at the enterprise table to make the transaction worthwhile.

Writing in a Market Advisory published today, Kinetic Information lists the following firms as leading White Knight candidates:

• Sun: seeking to push outward into applications from its legacy as a technology provider

• IBM: a regular visitor to the M&A well; possibly interested in hastening the Webification of ERP and positioning it as a flagship on-demand application

• HP: has a long history in the ERP arena and, especially in its post-Compaq configuration, with excellent credentials as a resource for related hardware and software

• SAP: says it doesn’t buy companies to get market share, but it has acquired selectively in the past (e.g., TopTier) and therefore may be “protesting too much”

• Siebel: probably too small, but stranger things have happened, and would move the company further into the core of the enterprise

• Microsoft: a “usual suspect” forever looking to establish a presence as a significant enterprise player

ABOUT KINETIC INFORMATION LLC
Kinetic Information LLC combines management consulting and industry analysis to help clients obtain maximum total value from the systems in their charge. Founded in 1995, the firm is focused on the business issues affecting technology's sale and use, and takes a uniquely business process-oriented approach to orchestrating corporate objectives, customer needs, and competitive responses. Additional information is available on the Web at www.kineticinfo.com or by calling Steve Weissman at 781.893.4690.

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Kinetic Information LLC 
Steve Weissman, 781.893.4690 
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