"The powerful combination of PeopleSoft and JD Edwards creates the second largest enterprise applications software company in the world," said PeopleSoft president and chief executive Craig Conway.

PeopleSoft bought about 110 million shares, or 88 percent, of JD Edwards as part of a friendly takeover offer that expired at the end of Thursday, the group said.

The bid had been valued previously at 1.75 billion dollars.

"PeopleSoft expects to acquire the remaining shares of JD Edwards before the end of August 2003," the company said.

Oracle said Monday it would pursue a hotly-opposed bid to take over PeopleSoft whether or not the PeopleSoft-JD Edwards merger went ahead. It has extended its bid for PeopleSoft by nearly a month to August 15.

SPACE.WIRE