A very interesting Christmas present to all of us who have been holding this for a long time! The timing is what interests me - Oracle have made a very clever play for ACX leading in to the holiday period in the hope that they at least get a jump on their competitors.
A 1% break fee if they do not get ACX is a rounding error but will cover their bid costs if they get out-bid by one of the other big boys. Will be fascinating to see where this trades at 11am as there is a good chance it will be above the $7.80 - why - because this is an absolute bargain for Oracle and because, I hope, their competitors will see that. I don't blame management at all. They have locked in a base price at a 47% premium in a market where the analysts have never understood the value of ACX and there was a good chance they never would. Also, if they knocked this back convincingly there is also a good chance Oracle would have had a crack at Procore and, if they bought that, then ACX would have been up against a competitor with a development budget in the billions.
There is only one chance to dominate this market without spending a ludicrous amount of money to try and replicate what ACX has - I hope others recognise this and a bidding war takes this past its previous high so those few who bought in the $8's and are still holding get a profit too. The best price is always at an auction and Oracle are currently playing the part of the buyer's advocate with an attempt at a knock-out bid! I just hope 2-3 others decide to put their Christmas plans on hold and get stuck in!
Good luck to all!
MO
As always, DYOR!!
ACX Price at posting:
$5.29 Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held