Oracle is reportedly close to acquiring global electronic health record (EHR) provider, Cerner, in a deal estimated at around £22.6billion ($30billion).
According to the Wall Street Journal, the deal could be “finalised soon” as long as talks do not fall apart or “drag out”. The publication adds that if the deal does go through, it would be the biggest to date for Oracle, which is currently worth almost £211billion ($280billion).
A Friday report in the Financial Times (pay wall) said that a deal would help cement Oracle in the fast growing health IT sector. Cerner is one of the largest provider of hospital electronic medical systems to the US healthcare market and a leading supplier to the NHS.
Headquartered in Texas in the United States of America, Oracle defines itself as a “cloud technology company” and offers cloud application and platform services.
If Oracle does acquire Cerner it would mark a significant further push into the health sector by leading technology companies.
Microsoft, confirmed in April 2021 that it was buying AI natural language computer software company, Nuance Communications.
Microsoft said the acquisition was valued at £14.3billion ($19.7 billion).
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