Oracle wins U.S. approval for Siebel purchase
The database software giant says U.S. antitrust regulators had cleared its $5.9 billion purchase of its former rival.
Oracle said that the planned acquisition still requires regulatory clearance from the European Commission and is subject to other conditions.
Oracle said in a statement that it expects to close the transaction in the first quarter of next year.
If completed, the transaction would give Oracle a leg up in its battle with German rival SAP, which is the leader in the market for software that helps large companies automate business functions ranging from human resources to accounting to inventory management.
In the past two years, Redwood Shores, Calif.-based Oracle has spent some $19 billion buying up rivals as part of a strategy to lead what Oracle Chief Executive Larry Ellison has termed the consolidation of the business software industry.