Oracle schlägt Erwartungen

Quarterly software revenues were up 12% to $1.7 billion with new software license sales up 7% to $563 million, and software license updates and product support up 14% to $1.2 billion. First quarter operating margin rose to 32% versus 30% last year.

"Since we introduced our database for grid computing, Oracle 10g, our database new license sales have grown 16%, 15% and 19% in the last three quarters, respectively," said Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. "Database grids mark a new generation of much faster and more reliable database technology that runs on groups of low cost PC servers. Oracle is first to market with database grid technology and our database sales are trending up."

"Trailing twelve-month operating income and margin were at an all time high at $3.961 billion and 38.5%, respectively," said Oracle CFO Harry L. You. "This new level of performance reflects Oracle's continued success in providing customers with innovative and integrated software solutions and services."

Oracle is the world's largest enterprise software company. For more information about Oracle, including supplemental financial information, please call Investor Relations at (650) 506-4073 or visit Oracle on the web at www.oracle.com/investor.

"Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Information in this release relating to Oracle's future prospects, which are "forward-looking statements" are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not necessarily limited to, the following: (1) Economic, political and market conditions could adversely affect purchasing decisions for computer software and services throughout the world. The war on terrorism and the potential for other hostilities in various parts of the world continue to contribute to a climate of economic and political uncertainty that could adversely affect revenues. Delays in closing of transactions, reductions in size of individual transactions without an offsetting increase in volume, delays in product delivery, or a decline in our renewal rates for software license updates and product support can cause quarterly revenues and income to fall short of anticipated levels. (2) Management's ability to forecast revenues and control expenses, especially on a quarterly basis, continues to be a challenge. An unexpected decline in revenues without a corresponding and timely slowdown in expense growth could have a material adverse effect on results of operations. (3) Oracle continues to introduce new or enhanced versions of its products and services, such as Oracle Database 10g, Oracle Application Server 10g, Oracle E-Business Suite, Oracle Collaboration Suite, Oracle Customer Data Hub and Oracle On Demand. The market acceptance and contribution to Oracle's revenues of these new versions or products and services cannot be assured. (4) Oracle periodically has made changes to its pricing model and sales organization, which could lead to a decline or delay in sales as its sales force and customers adjust to the new pricing policies and organizational changes. Intense competition in the various markets in which Oracle competes may also put pressure on Oracle to reduce prices. (5) The market for Oracle's products is intensely competitive and is characterized by rapid technological advances and frequent new product introductions. There can be no assurances that Oracle will continue to introduce new products and new versions of existing products that keep pace with technological developments, satisfy increasingly sophisticated customer requirements and achieve market acceptance. All information set forth in this release is current as of September 14, 2004. Oracle undertakes no duty to update any statement in light of new information or future events. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with Oracle's business, please refer to the "Risk Factors" section of Oracle Corporation's SEC filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained by contacting Oracle Corporation's Investor Relations Department at (650) 506-4073 or Oracle's Investor Relations website at http://www.oracle.com/investor.