In German it is Abibac a true binational diplomaBut this work must continue and intensifyBeautiful cultural evenings in perspectiveYounger he was often accompanied Emile ZolaIt is a much larger signal of social justiceWith unemployment is any social temperature rising There is a real excitement about the testPoetry lyricism spectacular images humorI does not have a single English furniture6 of market share in Europe compared to 22HP yesterday finalized the purchase of EDS to 13.9 billion dollars or $ 25 per share , thus signing its biggest operation of external growth since the acquisition of Compaq in 2002 to 19 billion ("Les Echos" of May 14, 2008). For the first world computer group, this redemption has for primary objective to compete with the giant of the business services, IBM, making today more than 50 billion of turnover in the sector. Mark Hurd, who took the reins of the Californian company in 2005, estimated that the operation will allow HP to move into second place in a global market for computer services estimated at 550 billion dollars.
With EDS, HP will indeed double of day to the next its turnover in the sector, more than 38 billion dollars. "It is a historic day for HP, EDS and the clients we serve," welcomed yesterday Mark Hurd welcomed the birth of a "global leader" of the computer services. The project had previously received the green light from the European authorities in charge of competition, and their American counterparts had not issued any objection. It had then been validated at an extraordinary general meeting of the group.
Relay of growth
Since the announcement of the project, on May 13, some 500 employees of the two companies have worked on the integration process of the 140,000 employees in EDS in the world. Drawing lessons from its failed attempt to purchase of PriceWaterhouseCoopers (eventually acquired by IBM in 2002), HP has this time put all the chances of his side to complete the acquisition and especially the integration of EDS.
World's leading manufacturer of PC and leader in printers, the Californian group has indeed identified computer services business as a relay of strategic growth: this activity, which was not previously the strong point of HP (16.6 billion of turnover in 2007), in effect generates more comfortable than its main current trades margins, strong competitive pressure. Last year, the gross margin of EDS was 5.8 excluding exceptional items, against more than 23 for IBM.
Specifically, HP division in charge of computer services ("Technology Solutions Group") will therefore bring to EDS its outsourcing, systems integration and Council activities. It will now focus on servers, storage, software and services directly related to devices such as installation, maintenance or the design of computer systems.
Target multinationals
To Mark Hurd, the purchase of EDS must also allow HP to land credible provider to multinational corporations for pluri-annuels contracts totalling billions of dollars. The pattern of HP gave no specific details on the financial perspective resulting from the merger, nor indicated if he would have deletions of downsizing EDS teams: it reserves this information very expected on Wall Street for a conference with analysts to be held on 15 September. With the contribution of the company based in Plano (Texas), the California firm will total nearly 200,000 employees. Ron Rittenmeyer, the CEO of EDS who will head the merged activities of both companies in the services, indicated yesterday build on considerable savings through synergies resulting from the operation, as well as the automation of tasks hitherto carried out by it professionals.
