Siebel said it beat all expectations during the fourth quarter, just as Oracle prepares to close its acquisition of the customer relationship management (CRM) vendor.

With Oracle's chief executive Larry Ellison due to deliver an Oracle "state of the nation" speech next week in San Francisco, Siebel said its fourth quarter exceeded both its own estimates and consensus Wall St. predictions.

Revenue from licensing grew 33 per cent to $214m, maintenance increased seven percent to $131m and services were up by 13.7 per cent to $124m.

It's the first, and last, huzzah for a company that endured losses and declining revenues in 2005, and dumped chief executive Mike Laurie after less than a year for ex-Webvan boss George Shaheen. Oracle is expected to close its purchase at a meeting of Siebel stock holders on January 31.®

Related stories

• Update Oracle welcomes Siebel staff with 2,000 job cuts (9 February 2006)
• Oracle buys Finnish developer (10 October 2005)
• Siebel users: sit tight (22 September 2005)
• Siebel is done deal, Oracle says (20 September 2005)
• Oracle promises 'lifetime support' for bought-in customers (20 September 2005)
• Oracle conquers Siebel at $10.66 a share (12 September 2005)
• Siebel acts to reassure (9 May 2005)
• Siebel ditches boss (13 April 2005)
• Oh Woe is Siebel (6 April 2005)
• SEC accuses Siebel of careless talk (30 June 2004)