Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

x    QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF  THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended November 30, 2003

 

OR

 

¨    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF  THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                              to                             .

 

Commission file number: 0-14376

 


 

Oracle Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   94-2871189

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification no.)

 

500 Oracle Parkway

Redwood City, California 94065

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(650) 506-7000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    YES x  NO ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES x  NO ¨

 

The number of shares of registrant’s common stock outstanding as of December 15, 2003: 5,227,586,820

 



Table of Contents

ORACLE CORPORATION

 

FORM 10-Q

 

QUARTERLY REPORT

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

PART I.

   FINANCIAL INFORMATION     

Item 1.

   Financial Statements (Unaudited)     
     Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of November 30, 2003 and May 31, 2003    3
     Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Six Months Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002    4
     Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002    5
     Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements    6

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    15

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    39

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures    42

PART II.

   OTHER INFORMATION     

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings    43

Item 4.

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    43

Item 6.

   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K    43
     Signatures    44


Table of Contents
PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.   Financial Statements

 

ORACLE CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

As of November 30, 2003 and May 31, 2003

(Unaudited)

 

(in millions, except per share data)


  

November 30,

2003


  

May 31,

2003


ASSETS

             

Current assets:

             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 4,173    $ 4,737

Short-term investments

     3,901      1,782

Trade receivables, net of allowances of $363 as of November 30, 2003 and $376 as of May 31, 2003

     1,547      1,920

Other receivables

     209      301

Deferred tax assets

     361      381

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     116      106
    

  

Total current assets

     10,307      9,227
    

  

Investments in debt securities

     —        233

Property, net

     1,073      1,062

Deferred tax assets

     162      197

Intangible and other assets

     235      345
    

  

Total assets

   $ 11,777    $ 11,064
    

  

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

             

Current liabilities:

             

Accounts payable

   $ 212    $ 228

Current portion of long-term debt

     152      153

Income taxes payable

     958      891

Accrued compensation and related benefits

     465      454

Other accrued liabilities

     862      1,023

Deferred revenues

     1,349      1,409
    

  

Total current liabilities

     3,998      4,158
    

  

Notes payable and long-term debt, net of current portion

     169      175

Deferred tax liabilities

     151      186

Other long-term liabilities

     260      225

Commitments and contingencies

             

Stockholders’ equity:

             

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value—authorized: 1.0 shares; outstanding: none

     —        —  

Common stock, $0.01 par value and additional paid in capital—authorized: 11,000 shares; outstanding: 5,226 shares as of November 30, 2003 and 5,233 shares as of May 31, 2003

     5,280      5,101

Retained earnings

     1,780      1,092

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     139      127
    

  

Total stockholders’ equity

     7,199      6,320
    

  

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 11,777    $ 11,064
    

  

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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ORACLE CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

For the Three and Six Months Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002

(Unaudited)

 

    

Three Months
Ended

November 30,


   

Six Months

Ended

November 30,


 

(in millions, except per share data)


   2003

    2002

    2003

   2002

 

Revenues:

                               

New software licenses and other

   $ 855     $ 765     $ 1,380    $ 1,328  

Software license updates and product support

     1,114       954       2,148      1,859  

Services

     529       590       1,042      1,149  
    


 


 

  


Total revenues

     2,498       2,309       4,570      4,336  
    


 


 

  


Operating expenses:

                               

Sales and marketing

     525       512       989      984  

Software license updates and product support

     143       117       264      234  

Cost of services

     455       482       897      953  

Research and development

     323       295       621      581  

General and administrative

     137       109       268      211  
    


 


 

  


Total operating expenses

     1,583       1,515       3,039      2,963  
    


 


 

  


Operating income

     915       794       1,531      1,373  
    


 


 

  


Net investment gains (losses) related to equity securities

     (4 )     (22 )     32      (102 )

Other income, net

     5       28       17      51  
    


 


 

  


Income before provision for income taxes

     916       800       1,580      1,322  

Provision for income taxes

     299       265       523      444  
    


 


 

  


Net income

   $ 617     $ 535     $ 1,057    $ 878  
    


 


 

  


Earnings per share:

                               

Basic

   $ 0.12     $ 0.10     $ 0.20    $ 0.16  
    


 


 

  


Diluted

   $ 0.12     $ 0.10     $ 0.20    $ 0.16  
    


 


 

  


Weighted average common shares outstanding:

                               

Basic

     5,226       5,309       5,228      5,354  
    


 


 

  


Diluted

     5,337       5,420       5,342      5,468  
    


 


 

  


 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

ORACLE CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the Six Months Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002

(Unaudited)

 

     Six Months Ended
November 30,


 

(in millions)


   2003

    2002

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

                

Net income

   $ 1,057     $ 878  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                

Depreciation

     100       122  

Amortization of intangible assets

     21       44  

Net investment (gains) losses related to equity securities

     (32 )     102  

Deferred income taxes

     20       (35 )

Changes in assets and liabilities:

                

Decrease in trade receivables

     389       528  

Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets

     93       86  

Decrease in accounts payable and other current liabilities

     (139 )     (95 )

Increase (decrease) in income taxes payable

     135       (140 )

Decrease in deferred revenues

     (54 )     (13 )

Increase (decrease) in other long-term liabilities

     10       (8 )
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     1,600       1,469  
    


 


Cash Flows From Investing Activities:

                

Purchases of investments

     (5,252 )     (2,299 )

Proceeds from maturities and sale of investments

     3,397       2,574  

Capital expenditures

     (103 )     (75 )

Increase in other assets

     (21 )     (68 )
    


 


Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities

     (1,979 )     132  
    


 


Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

                

Payments for repurchase of common stock

     (399 )     (1,707 )

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

     176       147  

Settlement of forward contract

     —         (166 )
    


 


Net cash used for financing activities

     (223 )     (1,726 )
    


 


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     38       43  
    


 


Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (564 )     (82 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     4,737       3,095  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 4,173     $ 3,013  
    


 


 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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ORACLE CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

November 30, 2003

(Unaudited)

 

1.    BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

We have prepared the condensed consolidated financial statements included herein, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. However, we believe that the disclosures are adequate to ensure the information presented is not misleading. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003.

 

We believe that all necessary adjustments, which consisted only of normal recurring items, have been included in the accompanying financial statements to present fairly the results of the interim periods. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be expected for any subsequent interim period or for our fiscal year ending May 31, 2004. Certain prior period balances have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

 

2.    STOCK BASED COMPENSATION PLANS

 

We issue stock options to our employees and outside directors and provide employees the right to purchase our stock pursuant to stockholder approved stock option and employee stock purchase programs. We account for our stock-based compensation plans under the intrinsic value method of accounting as defined by Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations. We apply the disclosure provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, as amended by Statement 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure. For pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the options is amortized over the vesting period, typically four years, and the estimated fair value of the stock purchases is amortized over the six-month purchase period. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if we had accounted for our stock option and stock purchase plans under the fair value method of accounting:

 

     Three Months
Ended
November 30,


    Six Months
Ended
November 30,


 

(in millions, except per share data)


   2003

    2002

    2003

    2002

 

Net income, as reported

   $ 617     $ 535     $ 1,057     $ 878  

Deduct:       Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value based method for awards, net of related tax effects

     (65 )     (101 )     (130 )     (201 )

Add:            Reversal of total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value based method for forfeitures, net of related tax effects

     8       7       47       23  
    


 


 


 


Pro forma net income

   $ 560     $ 441     $ 974     $ 700  
    


 


 


 


Earnings per share:

                                

Basic—as reported

   $ 0.12     $ 0.10     $ 0.20     $ 0.16  

Basic—pro forma

   $ 0.11     $ 0.08     $ 0.19     $ 0.13  

Diluted—as reported

   $ 0.12     $ 0.10     $ 0.20     $ 0.16  

Diluted—pro forma

   $ 0.10     $ 0.08     $ 0.18     $ 0.13  

 

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Table of Contents

ORACLE CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

November 30, 2003

(Unaudited)

 

We estimate the fair value of our options using the Black-Scholes option value model, which was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. Option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility. Our options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimates. The fair value of options granted and the option component of the employee purchase plan shares were estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

 

     Three Months Ended
November 30,


   Six Months Ended
November 30,



   2003

   2002

   2003

   2002

Employee and Director Stock Options                    

Expected life from vest date (in years)

   1.35    1.25-1.57    1.26-3.00    1.25-2.46

Risk-free interest rate

   2.03-3.35%    2.08-3.31%    2.03-4.09%    2.08-3.34%

Volatility

   40%    56%    40-44%    56%

Dividend yield

           

Weighted average fair value of grants

   $4.19    $4.32    $4.79    $3.81
Employee Stock Purchase Plan                    

Expected life (in years)

   0.50    0.50    0.50    0.50

Risk-free interest rate

   1.00-1.10%    1.12-1.22%    1.00-1.10%    1.12-1.22%

Volatility

   40-48%    56-57%    40-48%    56-57%

Dividend yield

           

Weighted average fair value of grants

   $3.02    $2.47    $3.06    $2.54

 

3.    EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, plus the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options and shares issuable under the employee stock purchase plan using the treasury stock method, and in fiscal 2003, a forward contract to sell 36.0 million shares of our common stock that was settled on October 31, 2002. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

 

     Three Months
Ended
November 30,


   Six Months
Ended
November 30,


(in millions, except per share data)


   2003

   2002

   2003

   2002

Net income

   $ 617    $ 535    $ 1,057    $ 878
    

  

  

  

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     5,226      5,309      5,228      5,354

Dilutive effect of employee stock plans

     111      101      114      101

Dilutive effect of forward contract

          10           13
    

  

  

  

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

     5,337      5,420      5,342      5,468
    

  

  

  

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.12    $ 0.10    $ 0.20    $ 0.16

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.12    $ 0.10    $ 0.20    $ 0.16

Anti-dilutive weighted shares excluded from calculation (1)

     148      128      141      129

(1) These weighted shares relate to anti-dilutive stock options and could be dilutive in the future.

 

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Table of Contents

ORACLE CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

November 30, 2003

(Unaudited)

 

4.    COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

Comprehensive income includes foreign currency translation and equity hedge gains and losses and unrealized gains and losses on equity securities that are reflected in stockholders’ equity instead of net income. The following table sets forth the calculation of comprehensive income:

 

     Three Months
Ended
November 30,


   Six Months
Ended
November 30,


(in millions)


   2003

   2002

   2003

    2002

Net income

   $ 617    $ 535    $ 1,057     $ 878

Reversal of unrealized gain on equity securities

     —        —        (25 )     —  

Foreign currency translation and equity hedge gains

     129      17      36       38
    

  

  


 

Total comprehensive income

   $ 746    $ 552    $ 1,068     $ 916
    

  

  


 

 

5.    NET INVESTMENT GAINS (LOSSES) RELATED TO EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Net investment gains (losses) related to equity securities in the condensed consolidated statements of operations includes sales and provisions for losses related to Liberate Technologies and investments in other companies. In the first quarter of fiscal 2004, we sold all of our common stock in Liberate Technologies to a third-party for approximately $83.5 million and recognized a $35.4 million gain on the sale. In the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2003, we recorded impairment charges on our investment in Liberate Technologies of $15.0 million and $87.1 million. These charges related to other than temporary declines in the fair value of Liberate Technologies. We concluded that our investment was other than temporarily impaired because our cost basis exceeded the publicly traded market value of the Liberate Technologies common stock for approximately six months.

 

6.    DEFERRED REVENUES

 

The following table sets forth the components of deferred revenues:

 

(in millions)


   November 30,
2003


   May 31,
2003


Software license updates and product support

   $ 1,131    $ 1,168

Services

     119      128

New software licenses

     99      113
    

  

Total deferred revenues

   $ 1,349    $ 1,409
    

  

 

Deferred software license updates and product support revenues represent customer payments made in advance for annual support contracts. Software license updates and product support services are typically billed on a per annum basis in advance and revenue is recognized ratably over the support period. The deferred software license updates and product support revenues are typically highest at the end of our first fiscal quarter due to the collection of cash in the first quarter from the large volume of service contracts that are sold or renewed in the fourth quarter of the previous fiscal year. Deferred service revenues include prepayments for consulting, advanced product services and education services. Revenue for these services is recognized as the services are performed. Deferred new software license revenues typically result from undelivered products or specified enhancements, customer specific acceptance provisions or software license transactions that are not segmentable from consulting services.

 

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Table of Contents

ORACLE CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

November 30, 2003

(Unaudited)

 

7.    STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

 

Our Board of Directors has approved a program to repurchase shares of our common stock to reduce the dilutive effect of our stock option and stock purchase plans. Pursuant to the stock repurchase program, a total of 1,589.8 million shares have been repurchased as of November 30, 2003 for approximately $18.0 billion. We repurchased 33.3 million shares for $399.4 million and 189.7 million shares for $1,707.2 million during the six months ended November 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. At November 30, 2003, approximately $2.4 billion was available to repurchase shares of our common stock pursuant to the stock repurchase program.

 

8.    SEGMENT REPORTING

 

FASB Statement No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Our chief operating decision maker is our Chief Executive Officer. We are organized geographically and by line of business. While the Chief Executive Officer evaluates results in a number of different ways, the line of business management structure is the primary basis for which the allocation of resources and financial results are assessed. We have five major line of business operating segments: new software licenses, software license updates and product support, consulting, advanced product services and education.

 

The new software license line of business is engaged in the licensing of database technology software and applications software. Database technology software includes database management software, application server software, development tools and collaboration software. Our applications software can be accessed with standard web browsers and can be used to automate business processes and to provide business intelligence for financials, projects, marketing, sales, order management, procurement, supply chain, manufacturing, services and human resources. The software license updates and product support line of business provides customers with rights to unspecified software product upgrades and maintenance releases, internet access to technical content, as well as internet and telephone access to technical support personnel during the support period. The consulting line of business assists customers in the rapid design, implementation, deployment, upgrade and migration of our database technology and applications software. Advanced product services are comprised of advanced product support services and outsourcing services. Advanced product support services are earned by providing services to customers that include remote database administration, performance monitoring and tuning, and on-site technical services. Outsourcing services include multi-featured software management and maintenance services for our database technology and applications software. The education line of business provides instructor led, media based and internet based training in the use of our database technology and applications software.

 

We do not track our assets by operating segments. Consequently, it is not practical to show assets by operating segments.

 

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Table of Contents

ORACLE CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

November 30, 2003

(Unaudited)

 

The following table presents a summary of our operating segments(1):

 

     Three Months Ended
November 30,


   Six Months Ended
November 30,


(in millions)


   2003

   2002

   2003

   2002

New software licenses and other:

                           

Revenues(2)

   $ 852    $ 759    $ 1,376    $ 1,316

Sales and distribution expenses

     413      397      778      764
    

  

  

  

Margin(3)

   $ 439    $ 362    $ 598    $ 552

Software license updates and product support:

                           

Revenues

   $ 1,114    $ 954    $ 2,148    $ 1,859

Cost of services

     138      110      254      217
    

  

  

  

Margin(3)

   $ 976    $ 844    $ 1,894    $ 1,642

Consulting:

                           

Revenues(2)

   $ 395    $ 453    $ 789    $ 883

Cost of services

     322      360      654      722
    

  

  

  

Margin(3)

   $ 73    $ 93    $ 135    $ 161

Advanced product services:

                           

Revenues

   $ 65    $ 64    $ 125    $ 127

Cost of services

     56      44      102      87
    

  

  

  

Margin(3)

   $ 9    $ 20    $ 23    $ 40

Education:

                           

Revenues(2)

   $ 72    $ 79    $ 132    $ 151

Cost of services

     56      54      103      108
    

  

  

  

Margin(3)

   $ 16    $ 25    $ 29    $ 43

Totals:

                           

Revenues

   $ 2,498    $ 2,309    $ 4,570    $ 4,336

Expenses

     985      965      1,891      1,898
    

  

  

  

Margin(3)

   $ 1,513    $ 1,344    $ 2,679    $ 2,438
    

  

  

  


(1)   For business and management evaluation purposes, the underlying structure of our operating segments change periodically. Segment data related to the prior periods have been reclassified, as required by Statement 131, to conform to the current management organizational structure.
(2)   Operating segment revenues differ from the external reporting classifications due to certain software license products that are classified as consulting and education revenues for management reporting purposes.
(3)   The margins reported reflect only the direct controllable expenses of each line of business and do not represent the actual margins for each operating segment because they do not contain an allocation of product development, information technology, marketing and partner programs and corporate and general and administrative expenses incurred in support of the lines of business.

 

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ORACLE CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

November 30, 2003

(Unaudited)

 

Reconciliation of operating segment margin to income before provision for income taxes

 

    

Three Months

Ended

November 30,


   

Six Months

Ended

November 30,


 

(in millions)


   2003

    2002

    2003

    2002

 

Total margin for reportable segments

   $ 1,513     $ 1,344     $ 2,679     $ 2,438  

Product development and information technology expenses

     (404 )     (357 )     (769 )     (714 )

Marketing and partner program expenses

     (92 )     (86 )     (168 )     (161 )

Corporate and general and administrative expenses

     (92 )     (85 )     (190 )     (146 )

Net investment gains (losses) related to equity securities

     (4 )     (22 )     32       (102 )

Other income, net

     (5 )     6       (4 )     7  
    


 


 


 


Income before provision for income taxes

   $ 916     $ 800     $ 1,580     $ 1,322  
    


 


 


 


 

9.    INCOME TAXES

 

The effective tax rate in all periods is the result of the mix of income earned in various tax jurisdictions that apply a broad range of income tax rates. The provision for income taxes differs from the tax computed at the federal statutory income tax rate due primarily to state taxes and earnings considered as permanently reinvested in foreign operations.

 

The effective tax rate was 32.6% and 33.1% for the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2004 as compared to 33.1% and 33.6% for the corresponding prior year periods. In fiscal 2004, the effective tax rate is a blend of the effective tax rate on operating and other income, increased by the tax rate on the gain from the sale of our investment in Liberate Technologies in the first quarter. The effective tax rate for the first half of fiscal 2004 on operating and other income was reduced to 33.0% in the second quarter from 33.5% in the first quarter. In fiscal 2003, the effective tax rate is a blend of the effective tax rate on operating and other income, reduced by the tax rate on the impairment charge on our investment in Liberate Technologies. The effective tax rate for the first half of fiscal 2003 on operating and other income was reduced to 34.0% in the second quarter from 35.0% in the first quarter.

 

The Internal Revenue Service has examined our federal income tax returns for all years through 1995 without any material adjustment of additional taxes due. The IRS is currently examining our federal income tax returns for 1996 through 2002. We do not believe that the outcome of these matters will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Our intercompany transfer pricing is currently being reviewed by the IRS and by foreign tax jurisdictions and will likely be subject to additional audits in the future. We previously negotiated two Advance Pricing Agreements with the IRS that cover many of our intercompany transfer pricing issues and preclude the IRS from making a transfer pricing adjustment within the scope of these agreements. The agreements, however, are only effective through May 31, 2001, do not cover all elements of our intercompany transfer pricing issues and do not bind tax authorities outside the United States. We are currently negotiating bilateral and unilateral Advance Pricing Agreements to cover the periods from June 1, 2001 through May 31, 2006.

 

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ORACLE CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

November 30, 2003

(Unaudited)

 

10.    TENDER OFFER FOR PEOPLESOFT, INC.

 

On June 9, 2003, we commenced an unsolicited $16.00 per share tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of PeopleSoft, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or approximately $5.1 billion. On June 18, 2003, we increased the tender offer to $19.50 per share or approximately $6.2 billion. In connection with PeopleSoft’s acquisition of J.D. Edwards & Company, PeopleSoft issued additional shares of its stock, which increases our offer to approximately $7.5 billion. Our tender offer will expire on December 31, 2003, unless we extend the offer, which we are currently considering. We have entered into a commitment with Credit Suisse First Boston to provide a $5.0 billion revolving credit facility with a term of 364 days. We plan to pay for the PeopleSoft shares and related transaction fees and expenses with internally available cash and borrowings under the revolving credit facility, which may be increased, decreased or supplemented.

 

We have incurred approximately $33.4 million of expenditures as of November 30, 2003 associated with our tender offer for PeopleSoft. For the three and six months ended November 30, 2003, expenditures of $13.8 million and $28.4 million are included in general and administrative expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The remaining $5.0 million, which relates to a commitment fee for the revolving credit facility incurred in the first quarter of 2004, is included in other income, net in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

As discussed in Note 11, in connection with the tender offer, we have been named as a defendant in various legal proceedings and may be a party to additional legal proceedings in the future.

 

11.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Stockholder class actions were filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against us and our Chief Executive Officer on and after March 9, 2001. On June 20, 2001, the Court consolidated the class actions into a single action and appointed a lead plaintiff and class counsel. A consolidated amended complaint, adding our Chief Financial Officer and a former Executive Vice President as defendants, was filed on August 3, 2001. The consolidated amended complaint was brought on behalf of purchasers of our stock during the period from December 15, 2000 through March 1, 2001. Plaintiffs alleged that the defendants made false and misleading statements about our actual and expected financial performance and the performance of certain of our applications products, while certain individual defendants were selling Oracle stock, in violation of Federal securities laws. Plaintiffs further alleged that certain individual defendants sold Oracle stock while in possession of material non-public information. On March 12, 2002, the court granted our and the individual defendants’ motion to dismiss the amended consolidated complaint. On April 10, 2002, plaintiffs filed a first amended consolidated complaint and on September 11, 2002, the court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss that complaint. On October 11, 2002, the plaintiffs filed another amended complaint. In this second amended complaint, the plaintiffs added allegations that the defendants engaged in accounting violations and made misstatements about our financial performance, beginning on December 14, 2000. On November 8, 2002, we filed a motion to dismiss the second amended consolidated complaint. On December 9, 2002, plaintiffs filed their opposition to the motion to dismiss the second amended complaint and also moved to amend this complaint to expand their accounting allegations. On March 24, 2003, the Court dismissed the second amended complaint with prejudice. Plaintiffs appealed that dismissal and, on August 11, 2003, filed their appellate brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Defendants filed their response on October 8, 2003 and plaintiffs filed their reply on November 26, 2003. We anticipate that oral argument will be scheduled for the latter half of calendar year 2004. We believe that we have meritorious defenses against this action and we will continue to vigorously defend it. No class has been certified.

 

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ORACLE CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

November 30, 2003

(Unaudited)

 

Stockholder derivative lawsuits were filed in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County on and after March 12, 2001. A revised amended consolidated complaint was filed in the Delaware action on October 9, 2001 (the Delaware Derivative Action). During the same period, similar stockholder derivative lawsuits were filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Mateo and County of Santa Clara. A consolidated amended complaint was filed in San Mateo on January 28, 2002 (the San Mateo Derivative Action). On March 15, 2002, a similar derivative suit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (the Federal Derivative Action). The derivative suits were brought by alleged stockholders of the Company, purportedly on our behalf, against some of our current and former directors. The derivative plaintiffs alleged that these directors breached their fiduciary duties to us, abused their control, mismanaged Oracle, unjustly enriched themselves and committed constructive fraud, by making or causing to be made alleged misstatements about our revenue, growth and the performance of certain of our applications products, while certain officers and directors allegedly sold Oracle stock based on material, non-public information, and by taking actions that resulted in our being sued in the federal stockholder class actions. The derivative plaintiffs seek compensatory and other damages, disgorgement of profits, treble damages and other relief. The Board of Directors established a Special Litigation Committee (the SLC) to investigate the allegations in the Delaware Derivative Action, and the SLC was subsequently asked to investigate the allegations in the San Mateo Derivative and Federal Derivative Actions. Two outside directors serve on the SLC. On November 22, 2002, the SLC concluded its nine-month investigation into the claims made in all three derivative actions and into certain accounting and other allegations in the federal stockholder class action. The SLC determined, in the exercise of its business judgment, that these claims lack merit and that, therefore, prosecution of them is not in the best interests of Oracle or its stockholders. Accordingly, the SLC filed a motion in the Delaware Court of Chancery to terminate the Delaware Derivative Action. On June 13, 2003, the Delaware Court of Chancery denied the SLC’s motion to terminate, without addressing the SLC’s conclusions on the merits. The SLC filed a petition for an interlocutory appeal of the denial of the SLC’s motion, which petition was denied. Plaintiffs filed a motion to stay the action which was denied on September 15, 2003, and filed a separate motion to amend the complaint in the Delaware Derivative Action to dismiss all defendants other than our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Plaintiffs’ motion to amend the complaint was granted by a stipulation of all the parties and order of the Court on September 23, 2003. The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have filed a motion for summary judgment seeking judgment in their favor on all claims in the Delaware Action. We expect the hearing on the summary judgment to go forward in June 2004. On December 8, 2003, the San Mateo Court also approved plaintiffs’ request in the San Mateo Derivative Action to dismiss all defendants other than our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The Federal Derivative Action has been stayed by stipulation of the parties. Any party may terminate the stay with 30 days written notice. In the San Mateo Derivative Action, a trial date is currently set for April 5, 2004, but we expect this date will to be moved to January 2005, at the earliest.

 

On July 29, 1998, and on November 22, 2002, we filed petitions with the United States Tax Court, challenging notices of deficiency issued by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue that disallowed certain Foreign Sales Corporation commission expense deductions taken by us. The first notice of deficiency covered our 1988 through 1991 tax years and assessed additional taxes of approximately $20 million plus interest. The second notice covered our 1992 through 1995 tax years and assessed additional taxes of approximately $43 million plus interest. In February 2003, the IRS conceded its case against us for tax years 1992 through 1995 and on May 8, 2003, the Court ordered there were no further deficiencies for those years. We anticipate the IRS will also concede its case on the earlier petition covering tax years 1988 through 1991. If, however, the IRS does not concede the earlier case, we will vigorously defend our position in that matter.

 

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ORACLE CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

November 30, 2003

(Unaudited)

 

In connection with our unsolicited tender offer for PeopleSoft, we have been named as a defendant in several legal proceedings and may be party to additional legal proceedings in the future. We also initiated legal proceedings on June 18, 2003 against PeopleSoft and its board of directors in connection with the tender offer in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware (the Delaware Action). On June 12, 2003, J.D. Edwards and Company, (J.D. Edwards) filed suit in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Mateo, against us, our Chief Executive Officer, and an Executive Vice President seeking damages, injunctive relief, and other relief (the San Mateo Action). On the same date J.D. Edwards also filed suit against us in the District Court for the City and County of Denver, Colorado, seeking damages, declaratory relief and other relief (the Colorado Action). In both the San Mateo and Colorado Actions, stipulations of dismissal were executed and filed by the parties after the PeopleSoft-J.D. Edwards merger was consummated. On June 13, 2003, PeopleSoft filed suit against us in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Alameda, seeking damages, injunctive relief and other relief (the Alameda Action). In that action, PeopleSoft alleges that the defendants wrongfully interfered with the pending merger agreement between J.D. Edwards and PeopleSoft, wrongfully interfered with prospective software license sales by PeopleSoft to its customers and engaged in trade libel and false advertising in connection with the tender offer. On August 12, 2003, PeopleSoft filed an amended complaint, asserting substantially similar claims and purporting to bring claims on behalf of J.D. Edwards. On September 11, 2003, we filed a demurrer in the Alameda Action, seeking to dismiss the action in its entirety. On November 5, 2003, the Court overruled the demurrer in part and sustained it in part, with leave to amend certain causes of action. PeopleSoft filed its second amended complaint on December 12, 2003. In the Delaware Action, on November 10, 2003, Oracle moved for a preliminary injunction to enjoin PeopleSoft from offering, continuing to offer or expanding the money back offer to customers it had reported in public filings during its last two fiscal quarters, and further sought expedited proceedings in connection with the motion and the proposed amended compliant filed on the same day. Although the Court denied the request for expedited proceedings, it ordered expedited discovery on the issue of the money back refund and scheduled a trial or hearing on all matters beginning March 29, 2004. On December 8, 2003, Oracle filed its amended complaint in the Delaware Action. Discovery in the Delaware and the Alameda Actions remains coordinated by the Chancery Court in Delaware, pursuant to court order. On June 18, 2003, the State of Connecticut (the State) filed suit against us in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, seeking declaratory relief, injunctive relief and other relief (the Connecticut Action). In that action, the State alleges that our proposed acquisition of PeopleSoft would be anticompetitive and would violate state and federal antitrust laws. The State thereafter filed an amended complaint against us on August 4, 2003. In response to that action, we filed a motion to dismiss on August 18, 2003. The State responded to the motion on October 15, 2003 and we filed our reply on November 12, 2003. The hearing on the motion has not yet been scheduled. We believe that we have meritorious defenses against the actions filed against us and we will vigorously defend them.

 

We are currently party to various legal proceedings and claims, either asserted or unasserted, which arise in the ordinary course of business. While the outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not believe that the outcome of any of these claims or any of the above mentioned legal matters will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flow.

 

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Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

In addition to historical information, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Position and Results of Operations—Factors That May Affect Our Future Results or the Market Price of Our Stock.” When used in this report, the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect our opinions only as of the date of this Quarterly Report. We undertake no obligation to publicly release any revisions to the forward-looking statements after the date of this document. You should carefully review the risk factors described in other documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003 and the other Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q to be filed by us in our fiscal year 2004, which runs from June 1, 2003 to May 31, 2004.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). These accounting principles require us to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions. We believe that the estimates, judgments and assumptions upon which we rely are reasonable based upon information available to us at the time that these estimates, judgments and assumptions are made. These estimates, judgments and assumptions can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. To the extent there are material differences between these estimates, judgments or assumptions and actual results, our financial statements will be affected. The significant accounting policies that we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results include the following:

 

    Revenue Recognition

 

    Allowances for Doubtful Accounts and Returns

 

    Legal Contingencies

 

    Accounting for Income Taxes

 

In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by GAAP and does not require management’s judgment in its application. There are also areas in which management’s judgment in selecting among available alternatives would not produce a materially different result. Our senior management has reviewed these critical accounting policies and related disclosures with our Finance and Audit Committee.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

We derive revenues from three primary sources: (1) new software licenses, (2) software license updates and product support, and (3) services, which include consulting, advanced product services and education revenues. New software license revenues represent all fees earned from granting customers licenses to use our database technology and applications software, and excludes revenues derived from software license updates, which are included in software license updates and product support. While the basis for software license revenue recognition is substantially governed by the provisions of Statement of Position No. 97-2, Software Revenue Recognition, issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, we exercise judgment and use estimates in connection with the determination of the amount of new software license, software license updates and product support and services revenues to be recognized in each accounting period.

 

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For software license arrangements that do not require significant modification or customization of the underlying software, we recognize new software license revenue when: (1) we enter into a legally binding arrangement with a customer for the license of software; (2) we deliver the products; (3) customer payment is deemed fixed or determinable and free of contingencies or significant uncertainties; and (4) collection is probable. Substantially all of our new software license revenues are recognized in this manner.

 

The vast majority of our software license arrangements include software license updates and product support, which are recognized ratably over the term of the arrangement, typically one year. Software license updates provide customers with rights to unspecified software product upgrades, maintenance releases and patches released during the term of the support period. Product support services include internet access to technical content, as well as internet and telephone access to technical support personnel. Software license updates and product support are generally priced as a percentage of the net new software license fees. Software license updates can be purchased separately from product support; however, only customers who purchase software license updates can purchase product support. Substantially all of our customers purchase both software license updates and product support upon the initial licensing of our software. In addition, most of these customers renew the software license updates and product support rights annually.

 

Many of our software arrangements include consulting implementation services sold separately under consulting engagement contracts. Consulting revenues from these arrangements are generally accounted for separately from new software license revenues because the arrangements qualify as service transactions as defined in SOP 97-2. The more significant factors considered in determining whether the revenue should be accounted for separately include the nature of services (i.e., consideration of whether the services are essential to the functionality of the licensed product), degree of risk, availability of services from other vendors, timing of payments and impact of milestones or acceptance criteria on the realizability of the software license fee. Revenues for consulting services are generally recognized as the services are performed. If there is a significant uncertainty about the project completion or receipt of payment for the consulting services, revenue is deferred until the uncertainty is sufficiently resolved. We estimate the percentage of completion on contracts with fixed or “not to exceed” fees on a monthly basis utilizing hours incurred to date as a percentage of total estimated hours to complete the project. We recognize no more than 90% of the milestone or total contract amount until project acceptance is obtained. If we do not have a sufficient basis to measure progress towards completion, revenue is recognized when we receive final acceptance from the customer. When total cost estimates exceed revenues, we accrue for the estimated losses immediately based upon an average fully burdened daily rate applicable to the consulting organization delivering the services. The complexity of the estimation process and issues related to the assumptions, risks and uncertainties inherent with the application of the percentage-of-completion method of accounting affect the amounts of revenue and related expenses reported in our consolidated financial statements. A number of internal and external factors can affect our estimates, including labor rates, utilization and efficiency variances and specification and testing requirement changes.

 

If an arrangement does not qualify for separate accounting of the software license and consulting transactions, then new software license revenue is generally recognized together with the consulting services based on contract accounting using either the percentage-of-completion or completed-contract method as described above. Contract accounting is applied to any arrangements: (1) that include milestones or customer specific acceptance criteria that may affect collection of the software license fees; (2) where services include significant modification or customization of the software; (3) where significant consulting services are provided for in the software license contract without additional charge; or (4) where the software license payment is tied to the performance of consulting services.

 

Advanced product services are earned by providing services to customers that include remote database administration, performance monitoring and tuning, annual on-site technical support services and outsourcing. Outsourcing services include multi-featured software management and maintenance services for our database technology and applications software. Advanced product services revenues are recognized over the term of the service contract, which is generally one year.

 

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Education revenues include instructor-led, media-based and internet-based training in the use of our products. Education revenues are recognized as the classes or other education offerings are delivered.

 

For arrangements with multiple elements, we allocate revenue to each element of a transaction based upon its fair value as determined by “vendor specific objective evidence.” Vendor specific objective evidence of fair value for all elements of an arrangement is based upon the normal pricing and discounting practices for those products and services when sold separately and for software license updates and product support services, is additionally measured by the renewal rate offered to the customer. We defer revenue for any undelivered elements, and recognize revenue when the product is delivered or over the period in which the service is performed, in accordance with our revenue recognition policy for such element. If we cannot objectively determine the fair value of any undelivered element included in bundled software and service arrangements, we defer revenue until all elements are delivered and services have been performed, or until fair value can objectively be determined for any remaining undelivered elements. When the fair value of a delivered element has not been established, we use the residual method to record revenue if the fair value of all undelivered elements is determinable. Under the residual method, the fair value of the undelivered elements is deferred and the remaining portion of the arrangement fee is allocated to the delivered elements and is recognized as revenue.

 

Our software license arrangements generally do not include acceptance provisions. However, if acceptance provisions exist as part of public policy, for example in agreements with government entities when acceptance periods are required by law, or within previously executed terms and conditions that are referenced in the current agreement and are short-term in nature, we provide for a sales return allowance in accordance with FASB Statement No. 48, Revenue Recognition when Right of Return Exists. If acceptance provisions are long-term in nature or are not included as standard terms of an arrangement or if we cannot reasonably estimate the incidence of returns, revenue is recognized upon the earlier of receipt of written customer acceptance or expiration of the acceptance period.

 

We also evaluate arrangements with governmental entities containing “fiscal funding” or “termination for convenience” provisions, where such provisions are required by law, to determine the probability of possible cancellation. We consider multiple factors, including the history with the customer in similar transactions, the “essential use” of the software licenses and the planning, budgeting and approval processes undertaken by the governmental entity. If we determine that the likelihood of non-acceptance in these arrangements is remote, we then recognize revenue once all of the criteria described above have been met. If such a determination cannot be made, revenue is recognized upon the earlier of cash receipt or approval of the applicable funding provision by the governmental entity.

 

We assess whether fees are fixed or determinable at the time of sale and recognize revenue if all other revenue recognition requirements are met. Our standard payment terms are net 30; however, terms may vary based on the country in which the agreement is executed. Payments that are due within six months are generally deemed to be fixed or determinable based on our successful collection history on such arrangements, and thereby satisfy the required criteria for revenue recognition.

 

While most of our arrangements include short-term payment terms, we have a standard practice of providing long-term financing to credit worthy customers through our financing division. Since fiscal 1989, when our financing division was formed, we have established a history of collection, without concessions, on these receivables with payment terms that generally extend up to five years from the contract date. Provided all other revenue recognition criteria have been met, we recognize new software license revenue for these arrangements upon delivery, net of any payment discounts from financing transactions. In the six months ended November 30, 2003 and 2002, approximately 9% and 10% of our new software license revenues were financed through our financing division. We have generally sold these receivables on a non-recourse basis to third party financing institutions. We account for the sale of these receivables as “true sales” as defined in FASB Statement No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities.

 

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Allowances for Doubtful Accounts and Returns

 

We make judgments as to our ability to collect outstanding receivables and provide allowances for the portion of receivables when collection becomes doubtful. Provisions are made based upon a specific review of all significant outstanding invoices. For those invoices not specifically reviewed, provisions are provided at differing rates, based upon the age of the receivable. In determining these percentages, we analyze our historical collection experience and current economic trends. If the historical data we use to calculate the allowance for doubtful accounts does not reflect the future ability to collect outstanding receivables, additional provisions for doubtful accounts may be needed and the future results of operations could be materially affected.

 

We also record a provision for estimated sales returns and allowances on product and service related sales in the same period the related revenues are recorded in accordance with Statement 48. These estimates are based on historical sales returns, analysis of credit memo data and other known factors. If the historical data we use to calculate these estimates do not properly reflect future returns, then a change in the allowances would be made in the period in which such a determination is made and revenues in that period could be materially affected.

 

Legal Contingencies

 

We are currently involved in various claims and legal proceedings. Periodically, we review the status of each significant matter and assess our potential financial exposure. If the potential loss from any claim or legal proceeding is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, we accrue a liability for the estimated loss. Significant judgment is required in both the determination of probability and the determination as to whether an exposure is reasonably estimable. Because of uncertainties related to these matters, accruals are based only on the best information available at the time. As additional information becomes available, we reassess the potential liability related to our pending claims and litigation and may revise our estimates. Such revisions in the estimates of the potential liabilities could have a material impact on our results of operations and financial position. See Note 11 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of our material legal proceedings not in the ordinary course of business.

 

Accounting for Income Taxes

 

Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide income tax provision. In the ordinary course of a global business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax outcome is uncertain. Some of these uncertainties arise as a consequence of revenue sharing and cost reimbursement arrangements among related entities, the process of identifying items of revenue and expense that qualify for preferential tax treatment, and segregation of foreign and domestic income and expense to avoid double taxation. Although we believe that our estimates are reasonable, no assurance can be given that the final tax outcome of these matters will not be different than that which is reflected in our historical income tax provisions and accruals. Such differences could have a material effect on our income tax provision and net income in the period in which such determination is made.

 

We record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount of future tax benefit that is more likely than not to be realized. While we have considered future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for the valuation allowance, there is no assurance that the valuation allowance will not need to be increased to cover additional deferred tax assets that may not be realizable. Any increase in the valuation allowance could have a material adverse impact on our income tax provision and net income in the period in which such determination is made.

 

We provide for United States income taxes on the earnings of foreign subsidiaries unless they are considered permanently invested outside the United States. If these earnings were repatriated to the United States, they would generate foreign tax credits that could reduce the Federal tax liability associated with the foreign dividend.

 

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Results of Operations

 

Constant Currency Presentation

 

We compare the percent change in the results from one period to another period in this Quarterly Report using constant currency disclosure. To present that information, current period results for entities reporting in currencies other than United States dollars are converted into United States dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the last day of the prior fiscal year, rather than the actual exchange rates in effect during the periods. For example, if an entity reporting in Euros had revenues of 1.0 million Euros for the six months ended November 30, 2003 and November 30, 2002, our financial statements would reflect revenues of $1.2 million for the six months ended November 30, 2003 (using 1.18 as the exchange rate) and $1.0 million for the six months ended November 30, 2002 (using 0.99 as the exchange rate). The constant currency presentation would translate the results for the six months ended November 30, 2003 and 2002 using the May 31, 2003 exchange rate and indicate, in this example, no change in revenues during the periods. We present this constant currency information in order to allow investors to assess how our underlying business performed excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations. In each of the tables below, we present the percent change based on actual results as reported and based on constant currency.

 

Total Revenues and Operating Expenses

 

     Three Months Ended November 30,

   Six Months Ended November 30,

            Percent Change

                 Percent Change

      

(Dollars in millions)


    

2003

   Actual

   Constant

    

2002

    

2003

   Actual

   Constant

    

2002

Total Revenues:

                                               

Americas

   $ 1,250    8%    7%    $ 1,158    $ 2,292    1%    0%    $ 2,263

EMEA (1)

     881    8%    -6%      817      1,598    11%    -2%      1,445

Asia Pacific

     367    10%    1%      334      680    8%    2%      628
    

            

  

            

Total revenues

     2,498    8%    1%      2,309      4,570    5%    0%      4,336

Total Operating Expenses

     1,583    4%    -1%      1,515      3,039    3%    -2%      2,963
    

            

  

            

Total Operating Margin

   $ 915    15%    5%    $ 794    $ 1,531    12%    3%    $ 1,373
    

            

  

            

Total Operating Margin %

     37%                34%      34%                32%

% Revenues by Geography:

                                               

Americas

     50%                50%      50%                52%

EMEA

     35%                35%      35%                33%

Asia Pacific

     15%                15%      15%                15%

(1)   Comprised of Europe, the Middle East and Africa

 

Fiscal Second Quarter 2004 Compared to Fiscal Second Quarter 2003:    Total revenues increased in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 due to an increase in both new software license revenues and software license updates and product support revenues, as well as favorable foreign currency rate fluctuations due to a weakening of the United States dollar against certain major international currencies, primarily the Euro, British Pound and Japanese Yen. Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, total revenues increased slightly in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 primarily due to an increase in new software license revenues in the Americas, most notably in the United States, partially offset by a decrease in new software license revenues in EMEA. Improved sales execution, a strengthening in our competitive position, and a stronger economy resulted in a 23% increase in new software license sales in the United States. The strengthening of the economy in the United States did not positively affect the services revenue growth rates. Historically, services revenue growth rates have lagged new software license revenue growth rates by one to two quarters, as implementation services and education services related to new software licensed during the quarter are provided after the licenses are acquired by our customers. The economy continues to be weak in EMEA resulting in customers delaying or limiting their technology spending.

 

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Operating expenses were unfavorably affected as a result of the weak United States dollar relative to other major international currencies, resulting in an increase of 4% in operating expenses. Excluding currency rate fluctuations, total operating expenses decreased slightly in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 due primarily to lower salary expenses in the consulting line of business related to lower headcount levels, partially offset by discretionary bonus expenditures, higher sales commission expenses that resulted from higher new software license revenues, and professional fees incurred in connection with the PeopleSoft tender offer.

 

Operating margins as a percentage of total revenues increased from 34% to 37% in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 primarily due to the increase in new software license revenues and software license updates and product support revenues. International operations will continue to provide a significant portion of total revenues. As a result, total revenues and expenses will continue to be affected by changes in the relative strength of the United States dollar against certain major international currencies.

 

First Half Fiscal 2004 Compared to First Half Fiscal 2003:    Total revenues increased in the first half of fiscal 2004 due to an increase in both new software license revenues and software license updates and product support revenues, partially offset by lower services revenues. Total revenues were favorably affected by foreign currency rate fluctuations due to a weakening of the United States dollar against certain major international currencies, primarily the Euro, British Pound and Japanese Yen. Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, total revenues remained essentially flat in the first half of fiscal 2004 due to a 9% increase in software license updates and product support revenues, which was offset by lower new software license revenues and services revenues. Although new software license revenues grew in the second quarter of fiscal 2004, total revenues for the first half of fiscal 2004 were still negatively affected by weak economic conditions in the United States in the first quarter of fiscal 2004, as well as continued weak economic conditions internationally, particularly in EMEA. The strengthening of the economy in the United States did not positively affect the services revenue growth rates. Historically, services revenue growth rates have lagged new software license revenue growth rates by one to two quarters, as implementation services and education services related to new software licensed during the quarter are provided after the licenses are acquired by our customers.

 

Excluding currency rate fluctuations, the decrease in new software license revenues and services revenues is primarily attributable to weak economic conditions, both domestically and internationally, that resulted in customers delaying or limiting their technology spending. Customers exercised caution over spending in the first half of fiscal 2004 due to the weak economy.

 

Operating expenses were unfavorably affected as a result of the weak United States dollar relative to other major international currencies, resulting in a 3% increase in operating expenses. Excluding currency rate fluctuations, total operating expenses decreased slightly in the first half of fiscal 2004 due primarily to lower salary expenses in the consulting line of business related to lower headcount levels, partially offset by discretionary bonus expenditures and professional fees incurred in connection with the PeopleSoft tender offer.

 

Operating margins as a percentage of total revenues increased from 32% to 34% in the first half of fiscal 2004 primarily due to the increase in new software license revenues and software license updates and product support revenues.

 

Expected Results for the Three Months Ended February 28, 2004:    We expect the total revenue growth rate in the third quarter of fiscal 2004 to range between 7% and 10%, while the new software license revenue growth rate is expected to range between 5% and 15%. These expected revenue growth rates assume that the United States dollar will remain weak relative to major international currencies, contributing six percentage points of revenue growth. In addition, we anticipate reported earnings per share to range between $0.11 and $0.12, depending on actual revenue growth rates. These estimates are forward looking and are based on current expectations and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially and you should not rely on these estimates. Factors that may affect our actual results include our critical accounting policies and estimates and those identified below under the caption “Factors That May Affect Our Future Results or the Market Price of Our Stock.” We undertake no specific obligation to provide any updates regarding these estimates.

 

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New Software License and Other:    New software license revenues represent fees earned from granting customers licenses to use our database technology and application software products, and exclude revenues derived from software license updates, which are included in software license updates and product support revenues. Other revenues include documentation and miscellaneous revenues. We continue to place significant emphasis, both domestically and internationally, on direct sales through our own sales force. We also continue to market our products through indirect channels.

 

     Three Months Ended November 30,

   Six Months Ended November 30,

          Percent Change

             Percent Change

    

(Dollars in millions)


   2003

   Actual

   Constant

   2002

   2003

   Actual

   Constant

   2002

New Software License and Other Revenues:

                                        

Americas

   $ 377    19%    18%    $ 316    $ 587    2%    1%    $ 575

EMEA

     312    3%    -9%      302      512    5%    -7%      488

Asia Pacific

     166    13%    3%      147      281    6%    0%      265
    

            

  

            

Total revenues

     855    12%    4%      765      1,380    4%    -2%      1,328

Sales and Marketing Expenses

     525    3%    -4%      512      989    1%    -4%      984
    

            

  

            

Total Margin

   $ 330    30%    17%    $ 253    $ 391    14%    4%    $ 344
    

            

  

            

Total Margin %

     39%                33%      28%                26%

% Revenues by Geography:

                                               

Americas

     44%                41%      43%                43%

EMEA

     37%                40%      37%                37%

Asia Pacific

     19%                19%      20%                20%

Revenues by Product:

                                               

Database technology

   $ 712    11%    2%    $ 644    $ 1,119    4%    -3%    $ 1,081

Applications

     137    27%    18%      108      244    11%    6%      219
    

            

  

            

Total revenues by product

     849    13%    5%      752      1,363    5%    -1%      1,300

Other revenues

     6    -54%    -57%      13      17    -39%    -45%      28
    

            

  

            

Total new software license and other revenues

   $ 855    12%    4%    $ 765    $ 1,380    4%    -2%    $ 1,328
    

            

  

            

 

Fiscal Second Quarter 2004 Compared to Fiscal Second Quarter 2003:    Excluding currency rate fluctuations, new software license revenues increased in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 primarily due to higher revenues in the Americas, most notably the United States, partially offset by lower revenues in EMEA. Improved sales execution, a strengthening in our competitive position, and a stronger economy resulted in a 23% increase in new software license sales in the United States. While economic conditions improved during the second quarter in the United States, the economy continues to remain weak in EMEA. As a result, customers in EMEA continue to restrict their software procurement to current well-defined needs. Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, the Americas contributed 194% to the increase in new software license revenues, APAC contributed 16% and EMEA contributed -110%.

 

New software license revenues earned from large transactions, defined as new software license transactions over $0.5 million, increased by 31% in the second quarter of fiscal 2004. New software license revenues generated from large transactions increased as a percentage of total new software license revenues from 31% to 36% in the second quarter of fiscal 2004.

 

Excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations, sales and marketing expenses decreased in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 due to lower salaries attributable to lower sales and marketing personnel levels, as well as

 

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tighter controls over discretionary spending, partially offset by higher sales commissions due to higher new software license revenues. The new software license margin increased in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 primarily due to higher new software license revenues.

 

First Half Fiscal 2004 Compared to First Half Fiscal 2003:    Excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations, new software license revenues decreased in the first half of fiscal 2004 primarily due to customers delaying or limiting their technology capital spending as a result of weak economic conditions, most notably in EMEA. These weak economic conditions have resulted in more customers restricting their software procurement to well-defined current needs and a decline in purchases intended to accommodate future customer growth. Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, EMEA contributed 121% to the decrease in new software license revenues, partially offset by an increase in revenues in the Americas.

 

New software license revenues earned from large transactions, defined as new software license transactions over $0.5 million, increased by 12% in the first half of fiscal 2004. New software license revenues generated from large transactions increased as a percentage of total new software license revenues from 32% to 35% in the first half of fiscal 2004.

 

Excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations, sales and marketing expenses decreased in the first half of fiscal 2004 due to lower salaries attributable to lower sales personnel levels, as well as tighter controls over discretionary spending. New software license margin increased in the first half of fiscal 2004 primarily due to higher new software license revenues.

 

Software License Updates and Product Support:    Software license updates grant customers rights to unspecified software product upgrades and maintenance releases issued during the support period. Product support includes internet access to technical content, as well as internet and telephone access to technical support personnel. The cost of providing support services consists largely of personnel related expenses.

 

     Three Months Ended November 30,

   Six Months Ended November 30,

          Percent Change

             Percent Change

    

(Dollars in millions)


   2003

   Actual

   Constant

   2002

   2003

   Actual

   Constant

   2002

Software License Updates and Product Support Revenues:

Americas

   $ 596    14%    12%    $ 525    $ 1,149    12%    10%    $ 1,029

EMEA

     375    21%    5%      311      727    22%    8%      597

Asia Pacific

     143    21%    11%      118      272    17%    9%      233
    

            

  

            

Total revenues

     1,114    17%    9%      954      2,148    16%    9%      1,859

Expenses

     143    22%    14%      117      264    13%    6%      234
    

            

  

            

Total Margin

   $ 971    16%    9%    $ 837    $ 1,884    16%    10%    $ 1,625
    

            

  

            

Total Margin %

     87%                88%      88%                87%

% Revenues by Geography:

                                               

Americas

     53%                55%      53%                55%

EMEA

     34%                33%      34%                32%

Asia Pacific

     13%                12%      13%                13%

 

Fiscal Second Quarter 2004 Compared to Fiscal Second Quarter 2003:    Software license updates and product support revenue growth rates are affected by the overall new software license revenue growth rates, as well as the renewal rate of annual support contracts by existing customers. The increase in software license updates and product support revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 reflects an increase in the overall customer installed base over the comparable prior year periods, as well as improved renewal rates and more timely renewals. Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, the Americas contributed 66% to the growth in software

 

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license updates and product support revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2004, EMEA contributed 20%, and Asia Pacific contributed 14%.

 

Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, software license updates and product support expenses increased in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 primarily due to the accrual of discretionary bonuses, as well as higher salary expenses. The software license updates and product support margin as a percent of revenues decreased slightly as a result of increased discretionary bonus expenses.

 

First Half Fiscal 2004 Compared to First Half Fiscal 2003:    The growth in software license updates and product support revenues in the first half of fiscal 2004 is attributed to the same reasons noted above. Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, the Americas contributed 59% to the growth in software license updates and product support revenues in the first half of fiscal 2004, EMEA contributed 29% and APAC contributed 12%.

 

Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, software license updates and product support expenses increased in the first half of fiscal 2004 for the same reasons cited above. The software license updates and product support margin as a percent of revenues increased slightly as a result of higher revenues in the first half of fiscal 2004.

 

Services

 

Services consist of consulting, advanced product services and education.

 

Consulting:    Consulting revenues are earned by providing services to customers specializing in the rapid design, implementation, deployment, upgrade and migration of our database technology and applications software. The cost of providing consulting services consists primarily of personnel related expenditures.

 

     Three Months Ended November 30,

   Six Months Ended November 30,

          Percent Change

             Percent Change

    

(Dollars in millions)


   2003

   Actual

   Constant

   2002

   2003

   Actual

   Constant

   2002

Consulting Revenues:

                                               

Americas

   $ 217    -14%    -15%    $ 253    $ 440    -17%    -17%    $ 530

EMEA

     144    -8%    -20%      157      270    -1%    -12%      274

Asia Pacific

     35    -22%    -30%      45      82    -1%    -8%      83
    

            

  

            

Total revenues

     396    -13%    -18%      455      792    -11%    -15%      887

Expenses

     338    -11%    -16%      380      684    -9%    -14%      755
    

            

  

            

Total Margin

   $ 58    -23%    -28%    $ 75    $ 108    -18%    -19%    $ 132
    

            

  

            

Total Margin %

     15%                16%      14%                15%

% Revenues by Geography:

                                               

Americas

     55%                56%      56%                60%

EMEA

     36%                34%      34%                31%

Asia Pacific

     9%                10%      10%                9%

 

Fiscal Second Quarter 2004 Compared to Fiscal Second Quarter 2003:    Consulting revenue growth rates are affected by the overall new software license revenue growth rates, in particular applications revenues. Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, the decline in total consulting revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 was primarily due to weak economic conditions experienced in the last few years, both domestically and internationally, which have caused companies to delay or limit technology spending and product implementations. Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, the Americas contributed 44% to the decline in consulting revenues, EMEA contributed 40% and Asia Pacific contributed 16%.

 

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Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, the decline in consulting expenses is due primarily to a reduction of personnel related expenditures as a result of lower headcount and revenue levels, as well as controls over discretionary spending. The consulting margin as a percentage of revenues decreased slightly, as consulting revenues declined at a higher rate than consulting expenses.

 

First Half Fiscal 2004 Compared to First Half Fiscal 2003:    Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, the growth rates for both consulting revenues and expenses in the first half of fiscal 2004 were due to the same reasons cited above.

 

Advanced Product Services:    Advanced product services are comprised of advanced product support services and outsourcing services. Advanced product support services are earned by providing services to customers that include remote database administration, performance monitoring and tuning, and annual on-site technical services. Outsourcing services include multi-featured software management and maintenance services for our database technology and applications software. The cost of providing advanced product services consists primarily of personnel related expenditures.

 

     Three Months Ended November 30,

   Six Months Ended November 30,

          Percent Change

             Percent Change

    

(Dollars in millions)


   2003

   Actual

   Constant

   2002

   2003

   Actual

   Constant

   2002

Advanced Product Services Revenues:

                                               

Americas

   $ 35    -5%    -5%    $ 37    $ 68    -9%    -11%    $ 75

EMEA

     22    16%    -5%      19      41    8%    -7%      38

Asia Pacific

     8    0%    0%      8      16    14%    7%      14
    

            

  

            

Total revenues

     65    2%    -4%      64      125    -2%    -7%      127

Expenses

     58    23%    18%      47      106    18%    12%      90
    

            

  

            

Total Margin

   $ 7    -59%    -68%    $ 17    $ 19    -49%    -51%    $ 37
    

            

  

            

Total Margin %

     11%                27%      15%                29%

% Revenues by Geography:

                                               

Americas

     54%                58%      54%                59%

EMEA

     34%                30%      33%                30%

Asia Pacific

     12%                12%      13%                11%

 

Fiscal Second Quarter 2004 Compared to Fiscal Second Quarter 2003:    Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, advanced product services revenues decreased in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 due to weak economic conditions experienced in the last few years, both domestically and internationally, which have caused companies to delay or limit technology spending, as well as a de-emphasis of certain services. The decrease in advanced product support services revenues was partially offset by an increase in outsourcing services revenues.

 

Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, total advanced product services expenses increased primarily due to investments made in facilities and headcount to support current and future growth in our outsourcing business. The decrease in the advanced product services margin as a percent of revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 is due to lower advanced product support revenues and higher outsourcing expenses.

 

First Half Fiscal 2004 Compared to First Half Fiscal 2003:    Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, the growth rates for advanced product services revenues and expenses in the first half of fiscal 2004 were due to the same reasons cited above.

 

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Education:    Education revenues are earned by providing instructor led, media based and internet based training in the use of our database technology and applications software. Education expenses primarily consist of personnel related expenditures, facilities and external contractor costs.

 

     Three Months Ended November 30,

   Six Months Ended November 30,

     2003

   Percent Change

   2002

   2003

   Percent Change

   2002

(Dollars in millions)


      Actual

   Constant

         Actual

   Constant

  

Education Revenues:

                                               

Americas

   $ 25    -7%    -11%    $ 27    $ 48    -11%    -11%    $ 54

EMEA

     28    0%    -9%      28      48    0%    -11%      48

Asia Pacific

     15    -6%    -18%      16      29    -12%    -18%      33
    

            

  

            

Total revenues

     68    -4%    -11%      71      125    -7%    -13%      135

Expenses

     59    7%    0%      55      107    -1%    -7%      108
    

            

  

            

Total Margin

   $ 9    -44%    -44%    $ 16    $ 18    -33%    -36%    $ 27
    

            

  

            

Total Margin %

     13%                23%      14%                20%

% Revenues by Geography:

                                               

Americas

     37%                38%      38%                40%

EMEA

     41%                39%      38%                36%

Asia Pacific

     22%                23%      24%                24%

 

Fiscal Second Quarter 2004 Compared to Fiscal Second Quarter 2003:    Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, the decline in education revenues is attributable to lower new software license revenue growth rates experienced in the last twelve to eighteen months, as well as headcount reductions of information technology personnel across multiple industry sectors that have resulted in a reduction of the demand for technical product training. Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, the Americas contributed 33% to the decline in education revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2004, EMEA contributed 38% and Asia Pacific contributed 29%.

 

Excluding currency rate fluctuations, education expenses remained essentially flat. The education margins as a percentage of revenues decreased in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 as revenues declined without a corresponding decrease in expenses.

 

First Half Fiscal 2004 Compared to First Half Fiscal 2003:    Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, the growth rates for education revenues in the first half of fiscal 2004 were due to the same reasons cited above. Excluding currency rate fluctuations, education expenses decreased due to reductions in personnel and related expenditures.

 

Research and Development Expenses:    Research and development expenses primarily consist of personnel related expenditures. We intend to continue to invest significantly in our research and development efforts because, in our judgment, they are essential to maintaining our competitive position.

 

     Three Months Ended November 30,

   Six Months Ended November 30,

     2003

   Percent Change

   2002

   2003

   Percent Change

   2002

(Dollars in millions)


      Actual

   Constant

         Actual

   Constant

  

Expenses

   $ 323    9%    7%    $ 295    $ 621    7%    5%    $ 581

Percent of Total Revenues

     13%                13%      14%                13%

 

Excluding foreign currency rate fluctuations, research and development expenses increased in the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2004 primarily due to an increase in discretionary bonus expenditures. Research and

 

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development headcount increased 3% and 9% in the database technology and applications development organizations in the second quarter of fiscal 2004. While total headcount increased, salary expenses did not increase in proportion to the headcount increase due to a shift in the personnel mix between the United States and India. Personnel costs in India are significantly lower than in the United States.

 

General and Administrative Expenses:    General and administrative expenses primarily consist of personnel related expenditures for information technology, finance, legal and human resources support functions.

 

     Three Months Ended November 30,

   Six Months Ended November 30,

     2003

   Percent Change

   2002

   2003

   Percent Change

   2002

(Dollars in millions)


      Actual

   Constant

         Actual

   Constant

  

Expenses

   $ 137    26%    16%    $ 109    $ 268    27%    21%    $ 211

Percent of Total Revenues

     5%                5%      6%                5%

 

Excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations, the increase in general and administrative expenses in the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2004 was attributed to professional fees incurred in connection with the PeopleSoft tender offer, as well as discretionary bonus expenditures.

 

Net Investment Gains (Losses) Related to Equity Securities:    Net investment gains (losses) related to equity securities primarily related to our investment in Liberate Technologies.

 

     Three Months Ended November 30,

    Six Months Ended November 30,

 
     2003

    Percent Change

   2002

    2003

    Percent Change

   2002

 

(Dollars in millions)


     Actual

   Constant

       Actual

   Constant

  

Liberate Technologies

   $     *    *    $ (15 )   $ 35     *    *    $ (87 )

Other equity securities

     (4 )   *    *      (7 )     (3 )   *    *      (15 )
    


           


 


           


Total net investment gains (losses) related to equity securities

   $ (4 )   *    *    $ (22 )   $ 32     *    *    $ (102 )
    


           


 


           



*   not meaningful

 

In the first quarter of fiscal 2004, we sold all of our common stock in Liberate Technologies to a third-party for approximately $83.5 million and recognized a $35.4 million gain on the sale. In the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2003, we recorded impairment charges on our investment in Liberate Technologies of $15.0 million and $87.1 million. These charges related to other than temporary declines in the fair value of Liberate Technologies. We concluded that our investment was other than temporarily impaired because our cost basis exceeded the publicly traded market value of the Liberate Technologies common stock for approximately six months.

 

Other Income, Net:    Other income, net consists primarily of interest income, interest expense, foreign currency exchange gains (losses) and the minority interest share in the net profits of Oracle Japan.

 

     Three Months Ended November 30,

    Six Months Ended November 30,

 
     2003

    Percent Change

   2002

    2003

    Percent Change

   2002

 

(Dollars in millions)


     Actual

   Constant

       Actual

   Constant

  

Interest income

   $ 29     -17%    -24%    $  35     $ 56     -18%    -21%    $ 68  

Interest expense

     (3 )   -25%    -25%      (4 )     (14 )   75%    75%      (8 )

Foreign currency gains (losses)

     (4 )   *        *          3       (6 )   *        *          1  

Minority interest

     (18 )   *        *          (9 )     (23 )   *        *          (12 )

Other

     1     *        *          3       4     *        *          2  
    


           


 


           


Total other income, net

   $ 5     *        *        $ 28     $ 17     *        *        $ 51  
    


           


 


           



*   not meaningful

 

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The decrease in interest income is primarily due to lower interest rates available in the capital markets. In the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2004, the weighted average interest rate earned on cash, cash equivalents and investments decreased to 1.5% from 2.2% and 1.5% from 2.1%, respectively. Interest expense increased in the first half of fiscal 2004 primarily due to a $5.0 million commitment fee related to a $5.0 billion revolving credit facility obtained in connection with the PeopleSoft tender offer.

 

Provision for Income Taxes:    The effective tax rate in all periods is the result of the mix of income earned in various tax jurisdictions that apply a broad range of income tax rates. The provision for income taxes differs from the tax computed at the federal statutory income tax rate due primarily to state taxes and earnings considered as permanently reinvested in foreign operations. Future effective tax rates could be adversely affected if earnings are lower than anticipated in countries where we have lower statutory rates, by unfavorable changes in tax laws and regulations or by adverse rulings in tax related litigation.

 

The effective tax rate was 32.6% and 33.1% for the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2004 as compared to 33.1% and 33.6% for the corresponding prior year periods. In fiscal 2004, the effective tax rate is a blend of the effective tax rate on operating and other income, increased by the tax rate on the gain from the sale of our investment in Liberate Technologies in the first quarter. The effective tax rate for the first half of fiscal 2004 on operating and other income was reduced to 33.0% in the second quarter from 33.5% in the first quarter. In fiscal 2003, the effective tax rate is a blend of the effective tax rate on operating and other income, reduced by the tax rate on the impairment charge on our investment in Liberate Technologies. The effective tax rate for the first half of fiscal 2003 on operating and other income was reduced to 34.0% in the second quarter from 35.0% in the first quarter.

 

Under FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, deferred assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. Statement 109 provides for the recognition of deferred tax assets if realization of such assets is more likely than not. We will continue to evaluate the realizability of the deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

(Dollars in millions)


   November 30,
2003


    Change

    May 31,
2003


 

Working capital

   $ 6,309     24 %   $ 5,069  

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

   $ 8,074     24 %   $ 6,519  
     Six Months Ended November 30,

 

(Dollars in millions)


   2003

    Change

    2002

 

Cash provided by operating activities

   $ 1,600     9 %   $ 1,469  

Cash provided by (used for) investing activities

   $ (1,979 )   *     $ 132  

Cash used for financing activities

   $ (223 )   -87 %   $ (1,726 )

*   not meaningful

 

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments:    Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments in time deposits held at major banks, commercial paper, United States government agency discount notes, money market mutual funds and other money market securities with original maturities of 90 days or less. Short-term investments include similar highly liquid investments that mature by November 30, 2004. The increase in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments in the six months ended November 30, 2003 was primarily due to $1.6 billion in cash from operating activities. The largest uses of cash from investing and financing activities were $399.4 million for common stock repurchases and $103.0 million for capital expenditures, offset by proceeds of $175.8 million from the issuance of common stock under employee stock option and employee stock purchase plans.

 

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The improved timeliness in the collection of accounts receivable impacts the amount of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. Days sales outstanding, which is calculated by dividing period end accounts receivable by average daily sales for the quarter, was 56 and 61 for the quarters ended November 30, 2003 and May 31, 2003, respectively. Days sales outstanding was lower for the quarter ended November 30, 2003 compared to the quarter ended May 31, 2003 due to the composition of software license updates and product support revenues as a percentage of total revenues, which increased from 37.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003 to 44.6% in the second quarter of fiscal 2004. Software license updates and product support revenue is typically invoiced in advance resulting in a lower days sales outstanding as compared to our other lines of business.

 

Cash flows provided by operating activities:    Cash flows from operating activities increased in the first half of fiscal 2004 primarily due to the increase in net income, partially offset by changes in various working capital components.

 

Cash flows provided by (used for) investing activities:    The negative cash flows from investing activities in the first half of fiscal 2004 primarily relates to an increase in the purchase of short-term investments. Additionally, in the first quarter of fiscal 2004, we acquired an office building, which we previously occupied under an operating lease, and the underlying land for $45.9 million. We expect to continue to invest in capital and other assets to support our growth.

 

Cash flows used for financing activities:    We incurred negative cash flows from financing activities in the first half of fiscal 2004 and 2003, primarily as a result of common stock repurchases. Our Board of Directors has approved a program to repurchase shares of our common stock to reduce the dilutive effect of our stock option and stock purchase plans. Pursuant to the stock repurchase program, a total of 1,589.8 million shares have been repurchased as of November 30, 2003 for approximately $18.0 billion. We repurchased 33.3 million shares for $399.4 million and 189.7 million shares for $1,707.2 million during the first half of fiscal 2004 and 2003, respectively. We have reduced our stock repurchase activity in order to increase our internally available cash to be used in connection with our tender offer for PeopleSoft. At November 30, 2003, approximately $2.4 billion was available to repurchase shares of our common stock pursuant to the stock repurchase program.

 

During fiscal 1997, we issued $150.0 million in 6.72% senior notes due in February 2004 and $150.0 million in 6.91% senior notes due in February 2007. In February 2002, we entered into two interest-rate swap agreements that have the economic effect of modifying the interest obligations associated with these senior notes so that the interest payable on the senior notes effectively becomes variable. The notional amount of the interest rate swaps and their termination date match the principal amounts and maturities of the outstanding senior notes. As a result of the two interest rate swaps, the effective interest rates on the senior notes as of November 30, 2003, were reduced to 4.55% on the February 2004 senior notes and 3.27% on the February 2007 senior notes. Additionally, at November 30, 2003, we had notes payable of $9.5 million due in May 2005.

 

The following is a summary of our contractual commitments associated with our debt and lease obligations as of November 30, 2003:

 

     Year Ending May 31,

(in millions)


   2004

   2005

   2006

   2007

   2008

   2009

   Thereafter

   Total

Principal and interest payments on senior notes

   $ 160    $ 10    $ 10    $ 160    $  —    $  —    $    $ 340

Notes payable

          10                               10

Operating leases

     82      116      82      59      48      33      137      557
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Total commitments

   $ 242    $ 136    $ 92    $ 219    $ 48    $ 33    $ 137    $ 907
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

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We offer our customers the option to acquire our software and services through separate long-term payment contracts. We generally sell such contracts on a non-recourse basis to financial institutions. We record the transfers of amounts due from customers to financial institutions as sales of financial assets because we are considered to have surrendered control of these financial assets under the provisions of FASB Statement No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities. In the six months ended November 30, 2003 and 2002, approximately 9% and 10% of our new software license revenues were financed through our financing division.

 

We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, cash generated from operations and the revolving credit facility discussed below will be sufficient to meet our working capital, capital expenditure, debt maturities and investment needs through at least November 30, 2004.

 

Tender Offer for PeopleSoft, Inc.

 

On June 9, 2003, we commenced an unsolicited $16.00 per share tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of PeopleSoft, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or approximately $5.1 billion. On June 18, 2003, we increased the tender offer to $19.50 per share or approximately $6.2 billion. In connection with PeopleSoft’s acquisition of J.D. Edwards & Company, PeopleSoft issued additional shares of its stock, which increases our offer to approximately $7.5 billion. Our tender offer will expire on December 31, 2003, unless we extend the offer, which we are currently considering. We currently expect that the offer will be extended until the principal conditions to the offer are satisfied. We have entered into a commitment with Credit Suisse First Boston to provide a $5.0 billion revolving credit facility with a term of 364 days. We plan to pay for the PeopleSoft shares and related transaction fees and expenses with internally available cash and borrowings under the revolving credit facility, which may be increased, decreased or supplemented.

 

We have incurred approximately $33.4 million of expenditures as of November 30, 2003 associated with our tender offer for PeopleSoft. For the three and six months ended November 30, 2003, expenditures of $13.8 million and $28.4 million are included in general and administrative expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The remaining $5.0 million, which relates to a commitment fee for the revolving credit facility incurred in the first quarter of 2004, is included in other income, net in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

As discussed in Note 11 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, in connection with the tender offer, we have been named as a defendant in various legal proceedings and may be a party to additional legal proceedings in the future.

 

Employee Stock Options

 

Our stock option program is a key component of the compensation package we provide to attract and retain talented employees and align their interests with the interests of existing stockholders. We recognize that options dilute existing stockholders and have sought to control the number of options granted while providing competitive compensation packages. Consistent with these dual goals, our cumulative potential dilution over the last three full fiscal years has been less than 1.0%, and has averaged 0.8% per year. The potential dilution percentage is calculated as the new option grants for the year, net of options forfeited by employees leaving the company, divided by the total outstanding shares at the beginning of the year. This maximum potential dilution will only result if all options are exercised. Many of these options, which have 10-year exercise periods, have exercise prices substantially higher than the current market price. At November 30, 2003, 31.5% of our outstanding stock options had exercise prices in excess of the current market price. Consistent with our historic practices, we do not expect that dilution from future grants before the effect of our stock repurchase program will exceed 1.5% per year for our ongoing business. Over the last 10 years, our stock repurchase program has more than offset the dilutive effect of our stock option program. At November 30, 2003, the maximum potential dilution from all option awards, regardless of when granted and regardless of whether vested or unvested and including options where the strike price is higher than the current market price, was 8.9%.

 

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The Committee on Compensation and Management Development of the Board of Directors reviews and approves the organization-wide stock option grants to selected employees, all stock option grants to executive officers and any individual stock option grant in excess of 25,000 shares. The Plan Committee approves any individual stock option grants up to 25,000 shares to non-executive officers.

 

Option information from June 1, 2000 through November 30, 2003 is summarized as follows:

 

    

(Shares

in millions)


 

Options outstanding at May 31, 2000

   592  

Options granted

   186  

Options exercised

   (203 )

Cancellations

   (109 )
    

Options outstanding at November 30, 2003

   466  
    

Average annualized options granted net of cancellations

   22  

Shares outstanding at November 30, 2003

   5,226  

Weighted average shares outstanding from June 1, 2000 through November 30, 2003

   5,437  

Options outstanding as a percent of shares outstanding at November 30, 2003

   8.9 %

In the money options outstanding (based on our November 30, 2003 stock price) as a percent of shares outstanding at November 30, 2003

   6.1 %

Average annualized options granted, net of cancellations and before stock repurchases, as a percent of weighted average shares outstanding from June 1, 2000 through November 30, 2003

   0.4 %

Average annualized options granted, net of cancellations and after stock repurchases, as a percent of average shares outstanding from June 1, 2000 through November 30, 2003

   -3.0 %

 

Generally, we grant stock options to our existing employees on an annual basis. During the six months ended November 30, 2003, we made our annual grant of options and other grants to purchase approximately 42.2 million shares of our stock, which resulted in a net grant of options for 27.9 million shares after deducting 14.3 million shares for cancelled options. For additional information about our employee stock option plan activity for the fiscal years 2001 through 2003, and the pro forma earnings presentation as if we had expensed our stock option grants using the fair value method of accounting, please see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003 and Note 2 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Factors That May Affect Our Future Results or the Market Price of Our Stock

 

We operate in a rapidly changing economic and technological environment that presents numerous risks. Many of these risks are beyond our control and are driven by factors that we cannot predict. The following discussion, as well as our discussion above of critical accounting policies and estimates, highlights some of these risks.

 

Economic, political and market conditions can adversely affect our revenue growth.    Our revenue growth and profitability depends on the overall demand for computer software and services, particularly in the sectors in which we offer products. Because our sales are primarily to corporate and government customers, the health of our business is directly related to the strength of general economic and business conditions. The recent general weakening of the global economy and the weakening of business conditions, particularly in the high technology, telecommunications, financial services and manufacturing industry sectors, as well as governmental budgetary constraints, have resulted in delays and decreases of customer purchases. Although there are signs of an improving economic environment in the United States, it is too early to determine whether an economic recovery will be broad, substantial and sustained, and whether any such recovery would translate to higher levels of information technology spending. International economic conditions continue to be weak, particularly in EMEA. In addition, governmental budgetary constraints continue both domestically and internationally. If demand for our software and related services does not continue to strengthen, our revenue growth rates will be adversely

 

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affected. In addition, the war on terrorism and the potential for other hostilities in various parts of the world continues to contribute to a climate of economic and political uncertainty that could adversely affect our revenue growth and results.

 

Although our business depends materially on the condition of domestic and foreign economies, and on the performance of key sectors that generate a disproportionate percentage of our revenues and earnings, our management has no comparative advantage in forecasting macroeconomic trends and developments relating to these general business conditions. Our management is, however, required to make these forecasts in order to develop budgets, plan research and development strategies and perform a wide variety of general management functions. To the extent that our forecasts are in error, because we are either overly optimistic or overly pessimistic about the performance of an economy or of a sector, our performance can suffer because of a failure to properly match corporate strategy with economic conditions.

 

Our success depends upon our ability to develop new products and enhance our existing products.    Rapid technological advances in hardware and software development, evolving standards in computer hardware, software technology and communications infrastructure, changing customer needs and frequent new product introductions and enhancements characterize the enterprise software market in which we compete. To keep pace with technological developments, satisfy increasingly sophisticated customer requirements and achieve market acceptance, we must enhance and improve existing products like Oracle Database, Oracle Application Server, Oracle E-Business Suite, Oracle Collaboration Suite and Oracle Outsourcing and we must also continue to introduce new products and services. If we are unable to develop new products or adapt our current products to run on new or popular operating systems, if we are unable to enhance and improve our products successfully in a timely manner or if we fail to position and/or price our products to meet market demand, our business and operating results will be adversely affected. In addition, standards for network protocols, as well as other industry adopted and de facto standards for the internet, are rapidly evolving. We cannot provide any assurance that the standards on which we choose to develop new products will allow us to compete effectively for business opportunities as they arise in emerging areas. Accelerated product introductions and short product life cycles require high levels of expenditures for research and development that could adversely affect our operating results. Further, any new products we develop may not be introduced in a timely manner and may not achieve the broad market acceptance necessary to generate significant revenues.

 

Our sales forecasts may not consistently correlate to revenues in a particular quarter.    We use a “pipeline” system, a common industry practice, to forecast sales and trends in our business. Our sales personnel monitor the status of all proposals, such as the date when they estimate that a customer will make a purchase decision and the potential dollar amount of the sale. These estimates are aggregated periodically to generate a sales pipeline. We compare this pipeline at various points in time to evaluate trends in our business. This analysis provides some guidance in business planning and budgeting, but these pipeline estimates are by their nature speculative. Our pipeline estimates are not necessarily reliable predictors of revenues in a particular quarter or over a longer period of time, partially because of changes in conversion rates of the pipeline into contracts that can be very difficult to estimate. A variation in the conversion rate of the pipeline into contracts, or in the pipeline itself, could cause us to plan or budget incorrectly and thereby adversely affect our business or results of operations. In particular, a slowdown in information technology spending or economic conditions can cause purchasing decisions to be delayed, reduced in amount or cancelled, which would reduce the overall software license pipeline conversion rate in a particular period of time. Because a substantial portion of our software license revenue contracts are completed in the latter part of a quarter, we may not be able to adjust our cost structure promptly in response to a decrease in our pipeline conversion rate.

 

Acquisitions and investments present many risks, and we may not realize the financial and strategic goals that were contemplated at the time of any transaction.    We have in the past and expect in the future to acquire or make investments in complementary companies, products, services and technologies. In June 2003, we commenced an unsolicited cash tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of PeopleSoft. In connection with the tender offer, we have been named as a defendant in various legal proceedings and we may be a party to additional legal proceedings in the future. PeopleSoft has a “poison pill” in place, which could delay or

 

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discourage an acquisition that the PeopleSoft stockholders may consider favorable. PeopleSoft has implemented several additional defensive tactics including offering customers “money back” guarantees (payable in various circumstances, including if any third party acquires the company). We have received, and are responding to, requests for additional information from various governmental authorities regarding possible antitrust concerns. While we intend to proceed with our offer, we cannot assure you that we will be successful in acquiring PeopleSoft.

 

The risks we may encounter in acquisitions and investments include:

 

    we may find that the acquired company or assets do not further our business strategy or that we paid more than what the company or assets are worth;

 

    we may have difficulty integrating the operations and personnel of the acquired businesses;

 

    we may have higher than anticipated costs in continuing support and development of acquired products;

 

    we may have difficulty incorporating the acquired technologies or products with our existing product lines;

 

    we may have product liability or intellectual property liability associated with the sale of the acquired company’s products;

 

    our ongoing business may be disrupted by transition or integration issues;

 

    our management’s attention may be diverted from other business concerns;

 

    our management may not be able to improve our financial and strategic position;

 

    we may have difficulty maintaining uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies;

 

    our relationship with current and new employees, customers and distributors could be impaired;

 

    the acquisition may result in litigation from terminated employees or third parties; and

 

    our due diligence process may fail to identify significant issues with product quality, product architecture and legal contingencies, among other matters.

 

These factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows, particularly in the case of a larger acquisition or number of acquisitions. Our investments in other businesses are also accompanied by risks similar to those involved in an acquisition.

 

We previously have generally paid for acquisitions in cash. We may in the future pay for acquisitions in whole or in part with stock or other equity-related purchase rights. To the extent that we issue shares of stock or other rights to purchase stock, including options and other rights, existing stockholders may be diluted and earnings per share may decrease.

 

Our quarterly revenues and operating results can be difficult to predict and can fluctuate substantially.    Our revenues in general, and our software license revenues in particular, are difficult to forecast and are likely to fluctuate substantially from quarter to quarter due to a number of factors, many of which are outside of our control. These factors include:

 

    the relatively long sales cycles for many of our products;

 

    the tendency of some of our customers to wait until the end of a fiscal quarter or our fiscal year in the hope of obtaining more favorable terms;

 

    the timing of our or our competitors’ new products or product enhancements or any delays in such introductions;

 

    any delays or deferrals of customer implementations of our products;

 

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    any changes in customer budgets that could affect both the timing and size of any transaction;

 

    any delays in recognizing revenue on any transaction;

 

    changes in the renewal rate for software license updates and product support contracts;

 

    any seasonality of technology purchases;

 

    changes in local, national and international regulatory requirements;

 

    any changes in general economic, political or market conditions;

 

    any changes in the product selection purchasing patterns of our customers between standard edition products and higher premium products; and

 

    changes in our pricing policies or the policies of our competitors.

 

Our new software license revenues in any quarter depend on orders booked and delivered in that particular quarter. Our operating expenses are based on our estimates of revenues and a high percentage of our expenses are fixed. Accordingly, our quarterly results are difficult to predict with any accuracy until the very end of a quarter. If even a small number of large software license transactions are delayed until after a quarter ends, our operating results could vary substantially from quarter to quarter and our net income could fall significantly short of our predictions.

 

Our international sales and operations subject us to additional risks that can adversely affect our operating results.    We derive a substantial portion of our revenues from customers outside the United States. We have significant operations outside of the United States, including software development, sales, customer support and shared administrative service centers, and we plan to expand our international operations, including continued expansion in China and India. Our international operations are subject to a variety of risks, including:

 

    general economic conditions in each country or region;

 

    the overlap of different tax regimes;

 

    the difficulty of managing an organization spread over various countries;

 

    changes in regulatory requirements;

 

    compliance with a variety of international laws and regulations, including trade restrictions, local labor ordinances and changes in tariff rates;

 

    longer payment cycles and difficulties in collecting accounts receivable;

 

    fluctuations in currency exchange rates and difficulties in transferring funds from certain countries;

 

    import and export licensing requirements;

 

    political unrest, terrorism and the potential for other hostilities, particularly in areas in which we have facilities; and

 

    reduced protection for intellectual property rights in some countries.

 

Our success depends, in part, on our ability to anticipate and address these risks. We cannot guarantee that these or other factors will not adversely affect our business or operating results.

 

We conduct a significant portion of our business in currencies other than the United States dollar. Our operating results are therefore subject to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Our revenues and operating results are adversely affected when the United States dollar strengthens relative to other currencies and are positively affected when the United States dollar weakens. Changes in the value of major foreign currencies, particularly the Euro, relative to the value of the United States dollar positively affected revenues and operating results in fiscal 2003. If the United States dollar strengthens throughout the remainder of fiscal 2004 relative to

 

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other currencies our revenues and operating results will be adversely affected. Our foreign currency transaction gains and losses are primarily related to sublicense fee and other agreements among our subsidiaries, our selling distributors and ourselves. These gains and losses are charged against earnings in the period incurred. To reduce our transaction and translation gains and losses associated with converting foreign currencies into United States dollars, we enter into foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge certain transaction and translation exposures in major currencies. In certain instances, we do not hedge foreign currencies, such as when the forward contracts in the relevant currency are not readily available or are not, in our opinion, cost effective. As a result, we will continue to experience foreign currency gains and losses.

 

Disruptions of our indirect sales channel could affect our future operating results.    In addition to marketing our products and services through our own direct sales and service forces, we market our products and services through indirect channels. Our indirect channel network is comprised primarily of resellers, system integrators/implementers, consultants, education providers, internet service providers, network integrators, and independent software vendors. We believe that our relationships with these channel participants enhance our marketing and sales efforts. Our financial results could be adversely affected if our contracts with channel participants were terminated, if our relationship with channel participants were to deteriorate, if any of our competitors enter into strategic relationships or acquire a significant channel participant, or if the financial condition of our channel participants were to weaken. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in maintaining or expanding our relationships with these channel participants. If we are not successful, we may lose sales opportunities, customers and market share.

 

To be successful we must effectively compete in a range of markets within the highly competitive software industry.    The software industry is intensely competitive. Several large vendors develop and market databases, internet application server products, application development tools, business applications, collaboration products and business intelligence products that compete with our offerings. In addition, several companies offer business outsourcing as a competitive alternative to buying software. Some of these competitors have greater financial or technical resources than we do. We expect to continue to face intense competition in each market in which we compete. We could lose market share if our competitors introduce new competitive products into one or more of our markets, add new functionality into an existing competitive product, acquire a competitive product, reduce prices, or form strategic alliances with other companies. In addition, because new distribution methods and opportunities offered by the internet and electronic commerce have removed many of the barriers to entry historically faced by small and start-up companies in the software industry, we expect to face additional future competition from these companies. We may also face competition from open source software initiatives, in which developers provide software and intellectual property free over the internet. If existing or new competitors gain market share in any of these markets, at our expense, our business and operating results could be adversely affected. Our applications run only on our database products, which could potentially limit our share of the market for business applications software. Additionally, our competitors who offer business applications and application server products may influence a customer’s purchasing decisions for the underlying database in an effort to persuade potential customers not to acquire our products.

 

We may need to change our pricing models to compete successfully.    The intensely competitive markets in which we compete can put pressure on us to reduce our prices. If our competitors offer deep discounts on certain products in an effort to recapture or gain market share or to sell other software or hardware products, we may then need to lower prices or offer other favorable terms in order to compete successfully. Any such changes would be likely to reduce margins and could adversely affect operating results. We have periodically changed our pricing model for our database management software and applications software and any broadly based changes to our prices and pricing policies could cause sales and software license revenues to decline or be delayed as our sales force implements and our customers adjust to the new pricing policies. Some of our competitors may bundle software products for promotional purposes or as a long-term pricing strategy or provide guarantees of prices and product implementations. These practices could, over time, significantly constrain the prices that we can charge for our products. In addition, if we do not adapt our pricing models to reflect changes in customer use of our products, our software license revenues could decrease. Our software license revenues could also decline

 

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if our customers shift to operating systems on which we experience relatively greater price competition and resulting lower average software license prices. Additionally, although the distribution of applications through application service providers may provide a new market for our products, these new distribution methods could also reduce the price paid for our products or adversely affect other sales of our products. If we cannot offset price reductions with a corresponding increase in the number of sales or with lower spending, then the reduced software license revenues resulting from lower prices would adversely affect our results.

 

If we cannot hire enough qualified employees or if we lose key employees, it will adversely affect our ability to manage our business, develop our products and increase our revenues.    We believe our continued success depends to a large extent on the continued service of our senior management and other key employees and the hiring of new qualified employees. In the software industry, there is substantial and continuous competition for highly skilled business, product development, technical and other personnel. We may experience increased compensation costs that are not offset by either improved productivity or higher prices. We may not be successful in recruiting new personnel and in retaining and motivating existing personnel. Members of our senior management team have left Oracle over the years for a variety of reasons and we cannot assure you that there will not be additional departures. Any changes in management can be disruptive to our operations. In general, we do not have long-term employment or non-competition agreements with our employees. Part of our total compensation program includes stock options. The volatility or lack of positive performance of our stock price may from time to time adversely affect our ability to retain or attract key employees. In addition, if we are required to treat all stock-based compensation as an expense, we may change both our cash and stock-based compensation practices. Some of the changes we are considering include the reduction in the number of employees granted options, a reduction in the number of options granted, the elimination or reduction of benefits under the employee stock purchase plan and a change to alternative forms of stock-based compensation. Any changes in our compensation practices could affect our ability to retain and motivate existing personnel and recruit new personnel.

 

If we account for employee stock option and employee stock purchase plans using the fair value method, it could significantly reduce our net income and earnings per share.    There has been ongoing public debate whether employee stock option and employee stock purchase plans shares should be treated as a compensation expense and, if so, how to properly value such charges. If we elected or were required to record an expense for our stock-based compensation plans using the fair value method, we could have significant accounting charges. For example, in the first six months of fiscal 2004, had we accounted for stock-based compensation plans using the fair-value method prescribed in FASB Statement No. 123 as amended by Statement 148, net income would have been reduced by $83.2 million. Although we are not currently required to record any compensation expense using the fair value method in connection with option grants that have an exercise price at or above fair market value at the grant date and for shares issued under our employee stock purchase plan, it is possible that future laws or regulations will require us to treat all stock-based compensation as an expense using the fair value method. See Note 2 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and our discussion in the Employee Stock Options section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for a more detailed presentation of accounting for stock-based compensation plans.

 

We might experience significant undetected errors or “bugs” in our products.    Despite testing prior to release of the products, software products frequently contain errors or security flaws, especially when first introduced or when new versions are released. Software errors in our products could affect the ability of our products to work with other hardware or software products, could delay the development or release of new products or new versions of products and could adversely affect market acceptance of our products. End users, who rely on our products for applications that are critical to their businesses, may have a greater sensitivity to product errors and security vulnerabilities than customers for software products generally. If we experience errors or delays in releasing new products or new versions of products, we could lose revenues. Software product errors could also subject us to product liability, performance and/or warranty claims, which could adversely affect our business and operating results.

 

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We periodically have restructured our sales force, which can be disruptive.    We continue to rely heavily on our direct sales force. In many years, we have restructured or made other adjustments to our sales force in response to factors such as management changes, product changes, performance issues and other internal considerations. Changes in the structure of the sales force and sales force management have generally resulted in a temporary lack of focus and reduced productivity that may have affected revenues in one or more quarters. We cannot assure you that we will not continue to restructure our sales force or that the transition issues associated with restructuring the sales force will not recur.

 

Some of our products are not as profitable as others.    Some of our products require a higher level of development, distribution and support expenditures, on a percentage of revenues basis. If revenues generated from these products become a greater percentage of our total revenues and if the expenses associated with these products on a percentage of revenues basis do not decrease, then our operating margins will be adversely affected.

 

We may not receive significant revenues from our current research and development efforts for several years, if at all.    Developing and localizing software is expensive and the investment in product development often involves a long payback cycle. In the first six months of fiscal 2004, our research and development expenses were $621 million, or 14% of our total revenues. Our plans for the remainder of fiscal 2004 include significant investments in software research and development and related product opportunities. We believe that we must continue to dedicate a significant amount of resources to our research and development efforts to maintain our competitive position. However, we do not expect to receive significant revenues from these investments for several years.

 

We may not be able to protect our intellectual property.    We rely on a combination of copyright, patent, trademark, trade secrets, confidentiality procedures and contractual commitments to protect our proprietary information. Despite our efforts, these measures can only provide limited protection. Unauthorized third parties may try to copy or reverse engineer portions of our products or otherwise obtain and use our intellectual property. Any patents owned by us may be invalidated, circumvented or challenged. Any of our pending or future patent applications, whether or not being currently challenged, may not be issued with the scope of the claims we seek, if at all. In addition, the laws of some countries do not provide the same level of protection of our proprietary rights as do the laws of the United States. If we cannot protect our proprietary technology against unauthorized copying or use, we may not remain competitive.

 

Third parties may claim we infringe their intellectual property rights.    We sometimes receive notices from others claiming we are infringing their patent or other intellectual property rights. We expect the number of such claims will increase as the number of products and competitors in our industry segments grows and the functionality of products overlaps. Companies are more frequently seeking to patent software and business methods because of developments in the law that may extend the ability to obtain such patents. As a result, we expect to receive more patent infringement claims. Responding to any infringement claim, regardless of its validity, could:

 

    be time-consuming to defend;

 

    result in costly litigation;

 

    divert management’s time and attention from developing our business;

 

    require us to enter into royalty and licensing agreements that we would not normally find acceptable;

 

    require us to stop selling or to redesign our products; and

 

    require us to pay money as damages or to satisfy indemnification obligations that we have with our customers.

 

If a successful claim is made against us and we fail to develop or license a substitute technology, our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

 

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Our outsourcing services may not be successful.    We offer outsourced services for our products through our E-Business Suite Outsourcing, Collaboration Suite Outsourcing and Technology Outsourcing services. Outsourcing is a relatively new service offering and revenues to date have not been significant. Our outsourcing business model is rapidly evolving and we may not be able to compete effectively or generate significant revenues. Our outsourcing business is subject to a variety of risks including:

 

    we may not be able to operate this business at an acceptable profit level;

 

    because we will be hosting critical customer operations we could be exposed to significant damage claims in the event of system failures;

 

    because outsourcing results in our hosting of customer data and other confidential information we have increased exposure to risk of claims around data security and privacy and misappropriation of customer confidential information; and

 

    the laws and regulations applicable to hosted service providers is unsettled and we could have regulatory exposure in certain areas such as data privacy, data security, export compliance and workforce reduction claims as a result of customers transferring their information technology functions to us.

 

If we are unable to successfully exploit this business our future operating results could be adversely affected.

 

Business disruptions could affect our future operating results.    Our operating results and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected in the event of a major earthquake, fire or other catastrophic event. We are a highly automated business and a disruption or failure of our systems could cause delays in completing sales and providing services. A significant portion of our research and development activities and certain other critical business operations are located in areas near major earthquake faults. A catastrophic event that results in the destruction or disruption of any of our critical business or information technology systems could severely affect our ability to conduct normal business operations and as a result our future operating results could be adversely affected.

 

Our sales to government clients subject us to risks including early termination, audits and investigations that can adversely affect our business.    We derive a substantial portion of our revenues from contracts with the United States government and its agencies and from contracts with state and local governments and their agencies. Governments and their agencies may terminate most of these contracts at any time, without cause.

 

Also, there is increased pressure for all governments and their agencies, both domestically and internationally, to reduce spending. Our federal government contracts are subject to the approval of appropriations being made by the United States Congress to fund the expenditures to be made by the federal government under these contracts. Additionally, government contracts are generally subject to audits and investigations by government agencies. If the government discovers improper or illegal activities in the course of audits or investigations, the contractor may be subject to various civil and criminal penalties and administrative sanctions, which may include termination of contracts, refund of a portion of fees received, forfeiture of profits, suspension of payments, fines and suspensions or debarment from doing business with the government. If we were assessed any penalties or sanctions, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.

 

We may have exposure to additional tax liabilities.    As a multinational corporation, we are subject to income taxes as well as non-income based taxes, in both the United States and various foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes and other tax liabilities.

 

In the ordinary course of a global business, there are many intercompany transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. We are regularly under audit by tax authorities. Our intercompany transfer prices are currently being reviewed by the IRS and by foreign tax jurisdictions and will likely be subject to additional audits in the future. We previously negotiated two Advance Pricing Agreements with the IRS that cover many of our intercompany transfer prices and preclude the IRS from making a transfer pricing adjustment within the scope of these agreements. The agreements, however, are only effective through May 31, 2001, do not

 

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cover all elements of our transfer pricing and do not bind tax authorities outside the United States. We are currently negotiating bilateral and unilateral Advance Pricing Agreements to cover the period from June 1, 2001 to May 31, 2006.

 

Although we believe that our tax estimates are reasonable, we cannot assure you that the final determination of our tax audits and litigation will not be different from what is reflected in our historical income tax provisions and accruals. Should we be assessed with additional taxes, there could be a material effect on our income tax provision and net income in the period or periods for which such determination is made.

 

We have exposure to additional non-income tax liabilities. We are subject to non-income taxes, such as payroll, sales, use, value-added, net worth, property and goods and services taxes, in both the United States and various foreign jurisdictions. We are regularly under audit by tax authorities with respect to these non-income taxes.

 

United States Congressional action in connection with the extraterritorial income case could adversely affect our net income.    The World Trade Organization has ruled the extraterritorial income regime (ETI) operated by the United States to be an illegal export subsidy and has authorized the European Union to impose tariffs on certain United States-made products imported into the European Union. ETI is a provision in the United States Tax Code providing tax incentives on products produced in the United States and exported for sale. European Union officials have indicated they will impose such tariffs starting March 1, 2004 unless the United States shows substantial progress and has repealed ETI by that date. The United States Congress thus has incentive to repeal and replace the ETI regime, but we cannot be certain that any legislation replacing ETI will provide us with the level of tax incentives received under the existing regime. We currently save approximately $25 million per year in United States federal income tax under the ETI regime.

 

Our stock price could remain volatile and your investment could lose value.    Our stock price has fluctuated widely in the past and could continue to do so in the future. Your investment in our stock could lose value. Some of the factors that could significantly affect the market price of our stock include:

 

    quarterly variations in our results of operations or those of our competitors;

 

    changes in our or our competitors’ prices;

 

    changes in our revenue and revenue growth rates as a whole or for specific geographic areas, business units, products or product categories;

 

    announcements of new products or product enhancements by us or our competitors;

 

    announcements regarding our tender offer for PeopleSoft and the reactions to such offer;

 

    announcements of advances in technology by us or our competitors;

 

    changes in management;

 

    changes in recommendations or earnings estimates by financial analysts;

 

    speculation in the press or analyst community;

 

    changes in political, economic and market conditions either generally or specifically to particular industries;

 

    fluctuations in stock prices generally, particularly with respect to the stock prices for other technology companies;

 

    changes in interest rates; and

 

    changes in investors’ beliefs as to the appropriate price-earnings ratio or other valuation measure for our competitors and us.

 

A significant drop in our stock price could expose us to the risk of securities class action lawsuits. Defending against such lawsuits could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention and resources. Furthermore, any settlement or adverse determination of these lawsuits could adversely affect us.

 

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Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Interest Rate Risk.    All of our fixed income investments, with the exception of auction rate securities, are classified as held-to-maturity, and therefore, are reported on the balance sheet at amortized cost. Auction rate securities are classified as available-for-sale and reported on the balance sheet at par value, which equals market value, as the rate on such securities re-sets generally every 7 to 28 days. Hence, interest rate movements do not affect the balance sheet valuation of the fixed income investments. Changes in the overall level of interest rates affect our interest income that is generated from our investments. For the three months ended November 30, 2003, total interest income was $28.5 million with the investments yielding an average of 1.45% on a worldwide basis. This interest rate level was down approximately 72 basis points from 2.17% for the three months ended November 30, 2002.

 

Table of Investment Securities:

 

The table below presents the cash, cash equivalent and investment balances, related weighted average interest rates and maturities for our investment portfolio at November 30, 2003. The cash, cash equivalent and investment balances approximate fair value at November 30, 2003:

 

(Dollars in millions)


   Amortized
Principal
Amount


   Weighted Average
Interest Rate
at November 30, 2003


 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 4,173    1.54 %

Short-term investments (91 days-1 year)

     3,901    1.23 %
    

      

Total cash, cash equivalents and investments

   $ 8,074    1.39 %
    

      

 

The table above includes the United States dollar equivalent of cash, cash equivalents and investments, a portion of which is denominated in foreign currencies as shown below. See discussion of our foreign currency risk below for a description of how we hedge net assets of certain international subsidiaries from foreign currency exposure.

 

(in millions)


   Amortized
Principal
Amount at
November 30,
2003


Euro

   $ 1,265

Japanese Yen

     766

British Pound

     155

Chinese Renminbi

     115

Australian Dollar

     82

South African Rand

     72

Canadian Dollar

     64

Other currencies

     534
    

Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments denominated in foreign currencies

   $ 3,053
    

 

During fiscal 1997, we issued $150.0 million in 6.72% senior notes due in February 2004 and $150.0 million in 6.91% senior notes due in February 2007. In February 2002, we entered into two interest-rate swap agreements that have the economic effect of modifying the interest obligations associated with these senior notes so that the interest payable on the senior notes effectively becomes variable based on the three month LIBOR set on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year until maturity. The notional amount of the interest rate swaps and their termination date match the principal amounts and maturities of the outstanding senior notes. At November 30, 2003, the effective interest rates on the senior notes were reduced to 4.55% for the 2004 senior notes and 3.27% for the 2007 senior notes as a result of the two interest rate swaps. The fair value of the interest rate swap due in February 2004 is $1.6 million at November 30, 2003 and is included in prepaid

 

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expenses and other current assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of the interest rate swap due in February 2007 is $9.6 million at November 30, 2003 and is included in intangible and other assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

Table of Interest Rate Swaps:

 

(Dollars in millions)


   Notional
Amount


   Fixed Interest
Rate on
Senior Notes


    Fixed Rate
Received
on Swap


    Variable Rate
Paid on Swap


    Effective
Interest Rate
on Senior Notes


 

Matures February 2004

   $ 150    6.72 %   (3.35 )%   1.18 %   4.55 %

Matures February 2007

   $ 150    6.91 %   (4.82 )%   1.18 %   3.27 %

 

Foreign Currency Transaction Risk.    We transact business in various foreign currencies and have established a program that primarily utilizes foreign currency forward exchange contracts to offset the risk associated with the effects of certain foreign currency exposures. Under this program, increases or decreases in our foreign currency exposures are offset by gains and losses on the forward contracts, so as to mitigate the possibility of foreign currency transaction gains and losses. These foreign currency exposures typically arise from intercompany sublicense fees and other intercompany transactions. Our forward contracts generally have terms of 180 days or less. We do not use forward contracts for trading purposes. All outstanding forward contracts (excluding equity hedges) are marked to market at the end of the period with unrealized gains and losses included in other income, net. Our ultimate realized gain or loss with respect to currency fluctuations will depend on the currency exchange rates and other factors in effect as the contracts mature. Net foreign exchange transaction (gains) losses included in other income, net in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations were $6.0 million and $9.5 million in the three and six months ended November 30, 2003 and $(0.2) million and $3.5 million in the three and six months ended November 30, 2002. The fair value of the foreign currency exchange contracts was $(0.8) million and $1.4 million as of November 30, 2003 and 2002.

 

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The table below presents the notional amounts (at contract exchange rates) and the weighted average contractual foreign currency exchange rates for the outstanding forward contracts as of November 30, 2003. In the first table, notional weighted average exchange rates are quoted using market conventions where the currency is expressed in currency units per United States dollar. In the second table, notional weighted average exchange rates are quoted using market conventions where the currency is expressed in units per Euro.

 

Table of Forward Contracts:

 

United States Dollar Foreign Exchange Contracts

 

(Dollars in millions)


   Exchange
Foreign Currency
for U.S. Dollars
(Notional Amount)


   Exchange
U.S. Dollars for
Foreign Currency
(Notional Amount)


   Notional
Weighted Average
Exchange Rate


Functional Currency:

                  

Australian Dollar

   $ —      $ 1    0.71

Brazilian Real

     13      —      3.19

Columbian Peso

     1      —      2,886.00

Chinese Renminbi

     69      —      8.27

Euro

     36      —      1.18

Indian Rupee

     38      —      46.25

Israeli Shekel

     23      —      4.50

Japanese Yen

     51      —      109.57

Korean Won

     10      3    1,215.50

Peruvian New Sol

     3      —      3.50

Philippine Peso

     12      —      56.95

Polish Zloty

     —        12    3.97

Saudi Arabian Riyal

     28      —      3.76

Singapore Dollar

     —        14    1.72

Slovakian Koruna

     2      —      35.04

South African Rand

     23      —      6.65

Taiwan Dollar

     1      26    33.90

Thai Baht

     1      —      40.11
    

  

    

Total

   $ 311    $ 56     
    

  

    

 

Euro Foreign Exchange Contracts

 

(Euros in millions)


   Exchange
Foreign Currency
for Euros
(Notional Amount)


   Exchange
Euros for
Foreign Currency
(Notional Amount)


   Notional
Weighted Average
Exchange Rate


Functional Currency:

                  

United States Dollar

   6    16    1.18
    

  

  

 

Net Investment Risk.    Periodically, we hedge the net assets of certain international subsidiaries (net investment hedges) using forward foreign currency exchange contracts to offset the translation and economic exposures related to our investments in these subsidiaries. We measure the ineffectiveness of net investment hedges by using the changes in spot exchange rates because this method reflects our risk management strategies, the economics of those strategies in our financial statements and better manages interest rate differentials between different countries. Under this method, the change in fair value of the forward contract attributable to the changes in spot exchange rates (the effective portion) is reported in stockholders’ equity to offset the translation results on the net investments. The remaining change in fair value of the forward contract (the ineffective portion) is recognized in other income, net.

 

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At November 30, 2003, we had one net investment hedge in Japanese Yen. The Yen equity hedge minimizes currency risk arising from net assets held in Yen as a result of equity capital raised during the initial public offering and secondary offering of Oracle Japan. The fair value of our Yen equity hedge was $0.5 million and $(1.2) million as of November 30, 2003 and 2002. The Yen equity hedge has a notional amount of $663.4 million and a weighted average exchange rate of 109.43 Yen for United States dollar.

 

Net gains (losses) on equity hedges reported in stockholders’ equity relating to the effective portion of the net investment hedge were $(45.3) million and $(48.4) million in the three and six months ended November 30, 2003 and $12.1 million and $(26.4) million in the three and six months ended November 30, 2002. The net gains on equity hedges reported in other income, net relating to the ineffective portion of the net investment hedges were $1.8 million and $3.7 million in the three and six months ended November 30, 2003 and $2.7 million and $4.8 million in the three and six months ended November 30, 2002.

 

Item 4.    Controls and Procedures

 

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.    Our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by paragraph (b) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15.

 

(b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting.    There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

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PART II.    OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings

 

The material set forth in Note 11 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

Set forth is information concerning each matter submitted to a vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on October 13, 2003.

 

Proposal No. 1:    The stockholders elected each of the following persons as a director to hold office until the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until earlier retirement, resignation or removal.

 

Director’s Name


   Votes For
(in millions)


   Votes Withheld
(in millions)


Lawrence J. Ellison

   4,522    88

Donald L. Lucas

   4,426    184

Michael J. Boskin

   4,428    183

Jeffrey O. Henley

   4,548    63

Jack F. Kemp

   4,557    54

Jeffrey Berg

   4,400    210

Safra Catz

   4,548    62

Hector Garcia-Molina

   4,557    54

Joseph A. Grundfest

   4,429    182

H. Raymond Bingham

   4,400    211

 

Proposal No. 2:    The stockholders approved the adoption of the Company’s Fiscal Year 2004 Executive Bonus Plan with 4,419.3 million affirmative votes, 160.3 million negative votes and 31.0 million votes abstaining.

 

Proposal No. 3:    The stockholders ratified the appointment of Ernst and Young LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2004 with 4,502.6 million affirmative votes, 83.5 million negative votes and 24.6 million votes abstaining.

 

Proposal No. 4:    The stockholders approved the Company’s Amended and Restated 1993 Directors’ Stock Plan with 2,739.6 million affirmative votes, 640.8 million negative votes, 32.5 million votes abstaining and 1,197.7 million broker non-votes.

 

Proposal No. 5:    The stockholders voted against a stockholder proposal to adopt the “China Business Principles for Rights of Workers in China” with 2,895.0 million negative votes, 215.5 million affirmative votes, 302.6 million votes abstaining and 1,197.6 million broker non-votes.

 

Item 6.    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

(a)  Exhibits

 

Exhibit 10.02   

1993 Directors’ Stock Plan, as amended through August 26, 2003

Exhibit 31.1   

Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act—Lawrence J. Ellison.

Exhibit 31.2   

Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act—Jeffrey O. Henley.

Exhibit 32.1   

Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(b)  Reports on Form 8-K

 

None.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Oracle Corporation has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

        ORACLE CORPORATION
Dated:    December 18, 2003       By:  

/s/    JEFFREY O. HENLEY


               

Jeffrey O. Henley

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

Dated:    December 18, 2003       By:  

/s/    JENNIFER L. MINTON


               

Jennifer L. Minton

Senior Vice President, Finance and Operations and Chief Accounting Officer

 

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