Ellison Pledges Support for PeopleSoft Clients

Oracle Corp. Chief Executive Larry Ellison pledged to provide support for customers of PeopleSoft Inc., the software maker he is trying to buy for $8.8 billion.

Ellison said he would “over-support” clients that purchased business-management software from Pleasanton, Calif.-based PeopleSoft, which had resisted Oracle’s takeover attempts.

Ellison is trying to assuage companies that are concerned that Oracle will cease providing support for PeopleSoft products if it prevails in the 18-month bid.