Microsoft May Trip Up Oracle Bid

Microsoft Corp. executives have given U.S. antitrust authorities a sworn statement that could help the government’s effort to block Oracle Corp.’s bid to buy PeopleSoft Inc., attorneys familiar with the case said.

Microsoft’s statement to the Justice Department undercuts one of Oracle’s central arguments in defense of the $9.4-billion deal -- that the two companies soon will face competition from Microsoft for a crucial part of their business.

The statement said Microsoft had no plans during the next two years to move into the market at issue -- software sold to large business customers to manage things such as finances, human resources and sales forces, the sources said.