Now Oracle is Considering a TikTok Bid Too

We can add database maker Oracle to the list of U.S. companies that are willing to take the dubious step of divesting China-based TikTok for its own aims.

Sources close to Oracle told Bloomberg that the firm has approached investors to partner on a bid that would seize TikTok’s businesses in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

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Oracle’s bid for TikTok is no less crazy than Microsoft’s desire to own the company, and unlike Twitter, which is a more logical option, it has the financial wherewithal to make it happen: The firm has $43 billion in cash and other assets. But Oracle also has an important backer in the U.S. president, which said this week that Oracle “could handle” the transaction; not coincidentally, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison supports the president’s reelection efforts.

But Oracle has even less expertise with consumers than does Microsoft, and absolutely no experience in this market to speak of. It’s unclear how a video service favored by the young would fit in Oracle’s old-fashioned product lineup. But 100 million users in the U.S. are 100 million more users than Oracle has right now.

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Conversation 14 comments

  • nbplopes

    19 August, 2020 - 1:30 pm

    <p>It’s out for the grab. Courtesy of the Gov. </p><p><br></p><p>I don’t understand Amazon not bidding. They could surveil the thing and than pop up with their products. Google with their speakers and smart displays … next gen messaging …</p><p><br></p><p>Or Zoom?</p>

    • a_lurker

      20 August, 2020 - 8:56 am

      <blockquote><a href="#562505"><em>In reply to nbplopes: </em></a></blockquote><p>I have been wondering why it's MS and Oracle sniffing and not others who seem more logical. Neither MS or Oracle are particularly strong in social media or dealing with consumers (MS does have more experience)</p>

      • SvenJ

        20 August, 2020 - 10:48 am

        <blockquote><a href="#562645"><em>In reply to A_lurker:</em></a><em> </em>I think Amazon, Facebook, Google, (Apple) just don't want the added scrutiny such a purchase would demand. MS, Oracle, aren't under a microscope right now. </blockquote><p><br></p>

      • nbplopes

        21 August, 2020 - 9:25 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#562645">In reply to A_lurker:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Its my impression that it may have to do with the Political landscape Lin the US. It may be that both Oracle and MS are closer to the “regime”. My impression is that Oracle is in this scene for the sake of the diversity argument. This is going to MS. It already won a major military contract head to head with Amazon … Google is not well seen, Twitter probably even less … </p>

  • davehelps

    Premium Member
    19 August, 2020 - 1:43 pm

    <p>Microsoft: “We think we can make the craziest business decision of 2020!”</p><p><br></p><p>Oracle: “Hold my beer…”</p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      20 August, 2020 - 5:20 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#562510">In reply to DaveHelps:</a></em></blockquote><p>Given the public image fallout that would accompany this deal, I think Oracle is a shoe-in here. They regularly manage to tarnish their public image with poor decisions, so they already have a team to deal with the fall out of being labelled a US Government lackey. Heck, it might bump them up the list for the next round JEDI contracts.</p>

  • anoldamigauser

    Premium Member
    19 August, 2020 - 2:37 pm

    <p>When you think things can't possibly get dumber, you find out that rock bottom has a basement.</p>

  • mattbg

    Premium Member
    19 August, 2020 - 3:50 pm

    <p>Maybe IBM should also consider throwing their hat into the ring.</p>

  • SvenJ

    19 August, 2020 - 4:46 pm

    <p>Oracle. Yea, that screams youthful social media.</p>

  • arthemis

    20 August, 2020 - 3:06 am

    <p>Omg, this is only getting more and more bizarre by the minute.</p>

  • dcdevito

    20 August, 2020 - 9:01 am

    <p>It’s a smart move. Hear me out. </p><p>Any company that has cloud infrastructure is set to gain from this purchase, as they can gobble up all the data (albeit silly videos) they can. Oracle is a big cloud player also. </p>

  • Mike Brady

    20 August, 2020 - 10:19 am

    <p>"Oracle’s bid for TikTok is no less crazy than Microsoft’s"</p><p><br></p><p>True. It's even crazier. Maybe they can do for TikTok what they did for Java.</p>

    • plettza

      20 August, 2020 - 10:57 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#562677">In reply to Mike_Brady:</a></em></blockquote><p>Ouch.</p>

  • garethb

    Premium Member
    20 August, 2020 - 9:13 pm

    <p>With Oracle's great reputation for managing companies it takes over, this is sure to be a success. /s</p><p><br></p><p>Not that MS is much better, it's more of a "fade away" rather than "explosion at fireworks factory" result.</p>

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