Vantive Corp has taken exception to some sideswipes that Siebel Systems Inc’s chairman and CEO Tom Siebel made last Thursday at the announcement of its first quarter results. Siebel revealed to the public conference call that investment bank Deutsche Morgan Grenfell had approached sales force automation firm Siebel in regard to a possible accusation. Siebel, of course, is still in the process of swallowing Scopus Technology Inc, which it agreed to acquire for $460m back in March (CI No 3,359). Siebel has already admitted to performing due diligence on Vantive and its front office automation competitor Clarify Inc in the run up to that acquisition (CI No 3,370). The comments appear to indicate more that Vantive may be looking for an acquisition partner than that Siebel is necessarily interested in being the acquirer. Vantive said it was not its policy to comment on rumors or public statements concerning merger activities, but Vantive’s president and CEO John Luongo said we’re flattered that, after many quarters of denial, Tom Siebel has finally acknowledged us as a competitor. We are flattered that Tom found the time to speak about Vantive, while he is faced with the enormous task of integrating the incompatible technology and vastly different corporate culture acquired in the purchase of Scopus. Siebel, of San Mateo, California, reported first quarter net income of $8.3m on revenues of $47.1m, doubling its revenues and tripling its earnings compared with the same period last year. Santa Clara, California-based Vantive is due to report its own first quarter figures on April 29th.
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