UPDATED: Hewlett-Packard Goes Sideways on Vertical Integration
Posted: August 19th, 2011 | Author: Michael Courtenay | Filed under: Apple, Google, Michael Courtenay, Smartphone, Tablet, Technoid Computer News | Tags: 3COM, 3PAR, apple, Autonomy Corporation, Dr. Mike Lynch, facebook, Google, Hewlett-Packard, HP, Intelligent Data Operating Layer, Leo Apotheker, Mark Hurd, Palm, Palm-Mobile Computing, Personal Systems Group, PSG, webOS | Comments Off
Hewlett-Packard is pulling out of consumer PC business, the company chose its Q3 earnings call to drop the bomb. The company under Mark Hurd’s watch focused on Vertical Integration and Converged Infrastructure - amusingly in the same time-frame – splashing out $7 billion to buy Palm, 3COM, and 3PAR. Hewlett-Packard in a complete 180 is now ditching both the Personal Computer and Palm-Mobile Computing business, oh, and they’ve signed on the line to buy Autonomy for $11 billion. IN CASE YOU MISSED THAT: Hewlett-Packard is pulling out of consumer computing, Personal Systems Group will cease to exist.
“This is a momentous day in Autonomy’s history” said Dr. Mike Lynch, chief executive officer and founder, Autonomy. “From our foundation in 1996, we have been driven by one shared vision: to fundamentally change the IT industry by revolutionizing the way people interact with information. HP shares this vision and provides Autonomy with the platform to bring our world-leading technology and innovation to a truly global stage, making the shift to a future age of the information economy a reality.”
WTF is Autonomy you ask: Autonomy Corporation is an enterprise software company with joint headquarters in Cambridge, United Kingdom, and San Francisco, USA. The company uses a combination of technologies born out of research at the University of Cambridge. It develops a variety of enterprise search and knowledge management applications using adaptive pattern recognition techniques centered on Bayesian inference. Autonomy’s main technology, ‘Intelligent Data Operating Layer’ (IDOL), allows search and processing of text taken from database, audio, video or text files or streams. The processing of such information by IDOL is referred to by Autonomy as Meaning-Based Computing. Autonomy’s technology attempts to understand any form of unstructured information, whether text, voice, or video, and based on that understanding perform automatic operations such, “you like that, you’d like this” on the information.
Just 1 short month ago we reported on Hewlett-Packard’s short shoe shuffle with it’s WebOS team, as if that wasn’t a confusing enough decision – now looks like moving deck chairs on the titanic - Hewlett-Packard has cash reserves of around $US14 Billion, splashing out in a financial downturn is surely speculation? With its webOS operating system from Palm, Hewlett-Packard signed briefly into that exclusive club of Vertical Integration - Apple - where the Software and Hardware are owned by the same. That’s when Hewlett-Packard spun out the surprise revelation that it would stop producing webOS devices, such as the Pre series of smartphones and the recently launched TouchPad tablet.
“We’re focused on improving performance across the business” said Léo Apotheker, HP president and chief executive officer. “HP is taking bold, transformative steps to position the company as a leader in the evolving information economy. Today’s announced plan will allow HP to drive creation of long-term shareholder value through a focus on fewer fronts, thereby improving its ability to execute, invest in innovation and drive a higher-margin business mix“
We’re not predicting doom and gloom, nor even the demise of Hewlett-Packard. Apple, Google and Dell are surely sat on the sideline with huge beaming smiles. It’s thought that Hewlett-Packard is hanging onto WebOS in the hope of licensing it out, wishful thinking we reckon, the mobile os market is already crowded with Apple, Google and Microsoft. Hewlett-Packard‘s Personal Systems Group – PSG – the guys that do the gear for punters like you and I, has flatlined for the past 12 months.
What we know:
- The tech behemoth has now confirmed reports that the it has agreed to acquire the search software company Autonomy for $11 billion. The offer is a 64% premium to yesterday’s closing price. The deal, which has been approved by the Autonomy board, is expected to close by the end of calendar 2011. The company is expected to be accretive in the first full year after completion of the deal.
- It also confirmed that it is considering strategic options for its PC business, including potentially spinning it off. The company said the process could take 12-18 months.
- Hewlett-Packard also said it is discontinuing production of WebOS devices, basically killing the Palm hardware business. The company will stop selling the TouchPad tablet and WebOS-based phones, and will “explore options” to maximize the value of the WebOS software going forward. Hewlett-Packard said that the company’s WebOS devices have not met internal milestones and goals.
- Hewlett-Packard also announced earnings ahead of the previously expected release time: the company reported revenue for the third quarter ended July of of $31.2 billion, with non-GAAP profits of $1.10 a share, about in line with the Street at $31.2 billion and $1.09.
- But guidance fell short of Street estimates: For Q4, Hewlett-Packard sees revenue of $32.1 billion to $32.5 billion and non-GAAP profits of $1.12 to $1.16; the Street has been projecting $34 billion and $1.31.
Hewlett-Packard is taking a massive risk with it’s new restructure. Hewlett-Packard has never been an IBM, able to ditch less profitable consumer computing for more profitable commercial hardware, services and support. Nor is Hewlett-Packard ever going to be close to a Google, relying almost completely on non harware based inovation. So what will the new Hewlett-Packard be? At first glance this may look like a cost cutting exercise, it’s not it’s a philisophical shift in direction - In the July quarter, the company posted 1% growth compared with a year ago. Revenue was up 20% in software, 7% in enterprise servers, storage and networks and 4% in services, and fell 1% in printing and 3% in Personal Systems Group. In the PSG group, total units were flat year-over-year. Notebooks were down 4% in revenue, and flat in units. Desktop PCs were down 4% in revenue, and up 1% in units. Consumer client revenue was down 17%, while commercial client revenue was up 9%.
So what to do with WebOS? Our buddies over at Business Insider reckon that Facebook should buy WebOS. Facebook would more than likely pick it up on the cheap. The potential advantages of such an acquisition are pretty clear. The future is mobile! Facebook currently develops its apps and services for multiple platforms, including desktop browsers and mobile browsers, and mobile operating systems. We’re not so sure the Facebook should take this plunge. Facebook is doing very nicely for itself developing apps for multiple platforms. The truth is that buying webOS wouldn’t change very much for the company, but it would add a huge amount of workload and support requirements. Almost every company Facebook has acquired so far has been for talent, most of which is expanding what it already offers to more devices and into more regions. If Facebook were to acquire webOS just for its developers, perhaps. As for the actual WebOS software, Facebook doesn’t need it. Why would Facebook want to support and update non-Facebook functionality? This includes first-party code – WebOS features, the webOS browser, and all the apps that come with WebOS – as well as support for third-party apps that run on WebOS - including Facebook competitors like Twitter, LinkedIn – the costs easily outweigh the benefits.
via TWITTER: Microsoft to WebOS Devs
The body of WebOS is still warm, one day after Hewlett-Packard announced it would cease developing the platform — indeed, HP may yet find a buyer who can bring it back to life. But Microsoft is wasting no time in luring the mourners away with free gifts and offers of support.
Microsoft’s chief Windows Phone evangelist, Brandon Watson, tweeted: “To Any Published WebOS Devs: We’ll give you what you need to be successful on #WindowsPhone, incl.free phones, dev tools, and training, etc.”
The latest version of Windows Phone 7, codename Mango, has reached the release stage and will be officially launched this fall — so it’s prime time for Redmond to try wooing developers. Mango adds features such as multitasking and cloud integration to what has so far been a fairly moribund platform.
And it looks as if Watson has had a smattering of interest. He spent the afternoon tweeting the same reply to inquiries: “Send me an email, tell me where you are located, and we connect you to one of our mobile champs for some personal attention.” (Watson’s email, for those interested, is thephone@microsoft dot com.)
Windows Phone may be among the least popular smartphone platforms at the moment, but analysts expect that to change in short order. A recent prediction from Gartner says WP7 will double its market share in 2012 to 10%, and hit 20% by 2015. If those numbers are for real, app developers who get in early could be looking at a gold rush as new users pour in. And Microsoft, flush with cash and desperate for attention in the mobile space, is hardly likely to abandon the platform any time soon. That will come as a comfort to anyone currently feeling burned by HP.
source: Hewlett-Packard
HP OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE BELOW
| HP Reports Third Quarter 2011 Results and Initiates Company Transformation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug 18, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) – HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced financial results for its third fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2011, as well as the commencement of a company transformation described in detail in separate press releases issued today.
HP unveiled the details of a plan to accelerate the strategy introduced in March. The plan introduced today will:
As part of the transformation, HP announced that its board of directors has authorized the exploration of strategic alternatives for the company’s Personal Systems Group. HP will consider a broad range of options that may include, among others, a full or partial separation of PSG from HP through a spin-off or other transaction. (See accompanying press release.) HP will discontinue operations for webOS devices, specifically the TouchPad and webOS phones. The devices have not met internal milestones and financial targets. HP will continue to explore options to optimize the value of webOS software going forward. In addition, HP announced the terms of a recommended transaction for all of the outstanding shares of Autonomy Corporation plc for £25.50 ($42.11) per share in cash. Autonomy’s software powers a full spectrum of mission-critical enterprise applications, including pan-enterprise search, customer interaction solutions, information governance, end-to-end eDiscovery, records management, archiving, business process management, web content management, web optimization, rich media management and video and audio analysis. The addition of Autonomy will accelerate HP’s ability to deliver on its strategy to offer cloud-based solutions and software that best addresses the changing needs of businesses. (See accompanying press release.) “We’re focused on improving performance across the business,” said Léo Apotheker, HP president and chief executive officer. “HP is taking bold, transformative steps to position the company as a leader in the evolving information economy. Today’s announced plan will allow HP to drive creation of long-term shareholder value through a focus on fewer fronts, thereby improving its ability to execute, invest in innovation and drive a higher-margin business mix.” Earnings highlights For the quarter, net revenue of $31.2 billion was up 1% from the prior-year period as reported and down 2% when adjusted for the effects of currency. GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $0.93, up 24% from $0.75 in the prior-year period. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.10, up 2% from $1.08 in the prior-year period. Non-GAAP financial information excludes after-tax costs of approximately $0.17 per share and $0.33 per share in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively, related primarily to the amortization of purchased intangibles, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges. Information about HP’s use of non-GAAP financial information is provided under “Use of non-GAAP financial information” below.
“Our outlook reflects the challenges that we face across our businesses,” said Cathie Lesjak, HP executive vice president and chief financial officer. “Dealing with these challenges will take time, but HP will navigate through the transformation to become a more focused, streamlined company.” Trends and regional performance HP’s Commercial businesses remain healthy with 5% revenue growth year over year. HP’s Consumer businesses, within PSG and IPG, were collectively down 15% year over year. Third quarter revenue was flat year over year in the Americas as well as in Europe, the Middle East and Africa at $14.1 billion and $11.0 billion, respectively. Revenue in Asia Pacific was $6.1 billion, representing a 9% increase year over year. When adjusted for the effects of currency, revenue was down 2% in the Americas, down 5% in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and up 1% in Asia Pacific. Revenue from outside of the United States in the third quarter accounted for 65% of total HP revenue. BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) generated revenue of $3.7 billion, up 12% over the year-ago period, accounting for 12% of total HP revenue. Business group highlights
Asset management HP generated $3.2 billion in cash flow from operations in the third quarter. Inventory ended the quarter at $7.4 billion, with days of inventory flat year over year at 28 days. Accounts receivable of $18.1 billion was up 6 days year over year at 52 days. Accounts payable ended the quarter at $14.5 billion, down 3 days from the prior-year period. HP’s dividend payment of $0.12 per share in the third quarter resulted in cash usage of $248 million. HP also utilized $4.6 billion of cash during the quarter to repurchase approximately 128 million shares of common stock in the open market. HP exited the quarter with $13.0 billion in gross cash. Outlook For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, HP estimates revenue of approximately $32.1 billion to $32.5 billion, GAAP diluted EPS of approximately $0.44 to $0.55, and non-GAAP diluted EPS of approximately $1.12 to $1.16. Fourth quarter fiscal 2011 non-GAAP diluted EPS estimates exclude after-tax costs of approximately $0.61 to $0.68 per share, related primarily to restructuring and shutdown costs associated with webOS devices, the amortization and impairment of purchased intangibles, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges. HP expects full year fiscal 2011 revenue in the range $127.2 billion to $127.6 billion, GAAP diluted EPS of $3.59 to $3.70, and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $4.82 to $4.86. Full year fiscal 2011 non-GAAP diluted EPS estimates exclude after-tax costs of approximately $1.16 to $1.23 per share, related primarily to restructuring and shutdown costs associated with webOS devices, the amortization and impairment of purchased intangibles, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges. More information on HP’s quarterly earnings, including additional financial analysis and an earnings overview presentation, is available on HP’s Investor Relations website at www.hp.com/investor/home. HP’s Q3 FY11 earnings conference call is accessible via an audio webcast atwww.hp.com/investor/2011q3webcast. About HP HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com. Use of non-GAAP financial information To supplement HP’s consolidated condensed financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, HP provides non-GAAP operating profit, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share and gross cash. HP also provides forecasts of non-GAAP diluted earnings per share. A reconciliation of the adjustments to GAAP results for this quarter and prior periods is included in the tables below. In addition, an explanation of the ways in which HP management uses these non-GAAP measures to evaluate its business, the substance behind HP management’s decision to use these non-GAAP measures, the material limitations associated with the use of these non-GAAP measures, the manner in which HP management compensates for those limitations, and the substantive reasons why HP management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors is included under “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” after the tables below. This additional non-GAAP financial information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating profit, operating margin, net earnings, diluted earnings per share, or cash and cash equivalents prepared in accordance with GAAP. Forward-looking statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If the risks or uncertainties ever materialize or the assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to any projections of revenue, margins, expenses, earnings, tax provisions, cash flows, benefit obligations, share repurchases, currency exchange rates, the impact of acquisitions or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations, the exploration of strategic options for HERMES and the execution of cost reduction programs and restructuring and integration plans; any statements concerning the expected development, performance or market share relating to products or services; any statements regarding current or future macroeconomic trends or events and the impact of those trends and events on HP and its financial performance; any statements regarding pending business combination transactions; any statements regarding pending investigations, claims or disputes; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the impact of macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events; the competitive pressures faced by HP’s businesses; the development and transition of new products and services and the enhancement of existing products and services to meet customer needs and respond to emerging technological trends; the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its suppliers, customers and partners; the protection of HP’s intellectual property assets, including intellectual property licensed from third parties; integration and other risks associated with business combination and investment transactions; the hiring and retention of key employees; assumptions related to pension and other post-retirement costs; expectations and assumptions relating to the execution and timing of cost reduction programs and restructuring and integration plans; the possibility that the expected benefits of pending business combination transactions may not materialize as expected or that the transactions may not be timely completed; the resolution of pending investigations, claims and disputes; and other risks that are described in HP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 and HP’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including HP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2011. As in prior periods, the financial information set forth in this release, including tax-related items, reflects estimates based on information available at this time. While HP believes these estimates to be meaningful, these amounts could differ materially from actual reported amounts in HP’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2011. In particular, determining HP’s actual tax balances and provisions as of July 31, 2011 requires extensive internal and external review of tax data (including consolidating and reviewing the tax provisions of numerous domestic and foreign entities), which is being completed in the ordinary course of preparing HP’s Form 10-Q. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. © 2011 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement HP’s consolidated condensed financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, HP provides non-GAAP operating profit, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share and gross cash. HP also provides forecasts of non-GAAP diluted earnings per share. These non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative for, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to non-GAAP operating profit is earnings from operations. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to non-GAAP operating margin is operating margin. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to non-GAAP net earnings is net earnings. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to non-GAAP diluted earnings per share is diluted net earnings per share. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to gross cash is cash and cash equivalents. Reconciliations of each of these non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP information are included in the tables above. Use and Economic Substance of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Used by HP Non-GAAP operating profit and non-GAAP operating margin are defined to exclude the effects of any restructuring charges, charges relating to the amortization of purchased intangible assets, and acquisition-related charges recorded during the relevant period. Non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share consist of net earnings or diluted net earnings per share excluding those same charges. In addition, non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share are adjusted by the amount of additional taxes or tax benefit associated with each non-GAAP item. HP’s management uses these non-GAAP financial measures for purposes of evaluating HP’s historical and prospective financial performance, as well as HP’s performance relative to its competitors. HP’s management also uses these non-GAAP measures to further its own understanding of HP’s segment operating performance. HP believes that excluding those items mentioned above from these non-GAAP financial measures allows HP management to better understand HP’s consolidated financial performance in relationship to the operating results of HP’s segments, as management does not believe that the excluded items are reflective of ongoing operating results. More specifically, HP’s management excludes each of those items mentioned above for the following reasons:
Gross cash is a non-GAAP measure that is defined as cash and cash equivalents plus short-term investments and certain long-term investments that may be liquidated within 90 days pursuant to the terms of existing put options or similar rights. HP’s management uses gross cash for the purpose of determining the amount of cash available for investment in HP’s businesses, funding strategic acquisitions, repurchasing stock and other purposes. HP’s management also uses gross cash for the purposes of evaluating HP’s historical and prospective liquidity, as well as to further its own understanding of HP’s segment operating results. Because gross cash includes liquid assets that are not included in GAAP cash and cash equivalents, HP believes that gross cash provides a more accurate and complete assessment of HP’s liquidity and segment operating results. Material Limitations Associated with Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures These non-GAAP financial measures may have limitations as analytical tools, and these measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of HP’s results as reported under GAAP. Some of the limitations in relying on these non-GAAP financial measures are:
Compensation for Limitations Associated with Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures HP compensates for the limitations on its use of non-GAAP operating profit, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share and gross cash by relying primarily on its GAAP results and using non-GAAP financial measures only supplementally. HP also provides robust and detailed reconciliations of each non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable GAAP measure within this press release and in other written materials that include these non-GAAP financial measures, and HP encourages investors to review carefully those reconciliations. Usefulness of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Investors HP believes that providing non-GAAP operating profit, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share and gross cash to investors in addition to the related GAAP measures provides investors with greater transparency to the information used by HP’s management in its financial and operational decision-making and allows investors to see HP’s results “through the eyes” of management. HP further believes that providing this information better enables HP’s investors to understand HP’s operating performance and to evaluate the efficacy of the methodology and information used by management to evaluate and measure such performance. Disclosure of these non-GAAP financial measures also facilitates comparisons of HP’s operating performance with the performance of other companies in HP’s industry that supplement their GAAP results with non-GAAP financial measures that are calculated in a similar manner. SOURCE: HP HP Mylene Mangalindan, +1-650-236-0005 corpmediarelations@hp.com Michael Thacker, +1-650-857-2254 corpmediarelations@hp.com or HP Investor Relations investor.relations@hp.com or HP Media Hotline, +1-866-266-7272 www.hp.com/go/newsroom HP to Acquire Leading Enterprise Information Management Software Company Autonomy Corporation plc Highly complementary acquisition provides leadership position in large and growing space Expected to be accretive to non-GAAP earnings per share for HP shareholders in the first full year following completion(1) PALO ALTO, Calif., and CAMBRIDGE, England, Aug. 18, 2011 HP (NYSE: HPQ) and Autonomy Corporation plc (LSE: AU. or AU.L) today announced the terms of a recommended transaction under which HP (through an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, HP SPV) will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Autonomy for £25.50 ($42.11) per share in cash (the “Offer”). The transaction was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both HP and Autonomy. The Autonomy board of directors also has unanimously recommended its shareholders accept the Offer. Based on the closing stock price of Autonomy on August 17, 2011, the consideration represents a one day premium to Autonomy shareholders of approximately 64 percent and a premium of approximately 58 percent to Autonomy’s prior one month average closing price. The transaction will be implemented by way of a takeover offer extended to all shareholders of Autonomy. A document containing the full details of the Offer will be dispatched as soon as practicable after the date of this release. The acquisition of Autonomy is expected to be completed by the end of calendar 2011. Founded in 1996, Autonomy is a global leader in infrastructure software for the enterprise with a customer base of more than 25,000 global companies, law firms and public sector agencies, and approximately 2,700 employees worldwide. Autonomy’s Intelligent Data Operating Layer (IDOL) platform allows computers to harness the richness of information, forming a conceptual and contextual understanding of any piece of electronic data, including unstructured information, such as text, email, web pages, voice and video. Autonomy’s software powers a full spectrum of mission-critical enterprise applications, including pan-enterprise search, customer interaction solutions, information governance, end-to-end eDiscovery, records management, archiving, business process management, web content management, web optimization, rich media management and video and audio analysis. Autonomy’s IDOL is the de-facto standard among more than 400 OEMs, supported by substantial intellectual property (IP), and Autonomy is a significant cloud player with over 30 petabytes of customer information under management. Autonomy’s recent operating and financial performance has been strong, including its most recent results for the quarter ending June 30, 2011. Over the last five years, Autonomy has grown its revenues at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 55 percent and adjusted operating profit at a rate of approximately 83 percent. “Autonomy presents an opportunity to accelerate our strategic vision to decisively and profitably lead a large and growing space,” said Léo Apotheker, HP president and chief executive officer. “Autonomy brings to HP higher value business solutions that will help customers manage the explosion of information. Together with Autonomy, we plan to reinvent how both unstructured and structured data is processed, analyzed, optimized, automated and protected. Autonomy has an attractive business model, including a strong cloud based solution set, which is aligned with HP’s efforts to improve our portfolio mix. We believe this bold action will squarely position HP in software and information to create the next-generation Information Platform, and thereby, create significant value for our shareholders.” Apotheker continued, “Autonomy is a highly profitable and globally respected software company, with a well-regarded management team and talented, dedicated employees. We look forward to partnering with a company who shares our commitment to solving customer problems by creating smart, cutting-edge products and solutions. I am particularly pleased that Dr. Mike Lynch, who heads a team of brilliant scientists and employees, will continue to lead Autonomy. I look forward to our collaboration as we focus on creating maximum value for the combined company, its customers and employees.” “This is a momentous day in Autonomy’s history,” said Dr. Mike Lynch, chief executive officer and founder, Autonomy. “From our foundation in 1996, we have been driven by one shared vision: to fundamentally change the IT industry by revolutionizing the way people interact with information. HP shares this vision and provides Autonomy with the platform to bring our world-leading technology and innovation to a truly global stage, making the shift to a future age of the information economy a reality.” Strategic and financial benefits
Lynch will continue to lead Autonomy and will report to Apotheker. Following the acquisition, Autonomy will operate separately. The Offer documents related to the transaction are available at www.hp.com/investor/offerdocuments. The Offer will be subject to the conditions and further terms set out in the Offer documents. HP intends to finance the transaction through offshore cash and debt financing. Conference call HP will host a conference call with the financial community today at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET to discuss this announcement, as well as HP’s third quarter 2011 financial results. The call is accessible via an audio webcast at www.hp.com/investor/2011q3webcast. About Autonomy Autonomy Corporation plc (LSE: AU. or AU.L), a global leader in infrastructure software for the enterprise, spearheads the Meaning Based Computing movement. IDC recently recognized Autonomy as having the largest market share and fastest growth in the worldwide search and discovery market. Autonomy’s technology allows computers to harness the full richness of human information, forming a conceptual and contextual understanding of any piece of electronic data, including unstructured information, such as text, email, web pages, voice, or video. Autonomy’s software powers the full spectrum of mission-critical enterprise applications including pan-enterprise search, customer interaction solutions, information governance, end-to-end eDiscovery, records management, archiving, business process management, web content management, web optimization, rich media management and video and audio analysis. Autonomy’s customer base is comprised of more than 25,000 global companies, law firms and federal agencies including: AOL, BAE Systems, BBC, Bloomberg, Boeing, Citigroup, Coca Cola, Daimler AG, Deutsche Bank, DLA Piper, Ericsson, FedEx, Ford, GlaxoSmithKline, Lloyds TSB, NASA, Nestlé, the New York Stock Exchange, Reuters, Shell, Tesco, T-Mobile, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. More than 400 companies OEM Autonomy technology, including Symantec, Citrix, HP, Novell, Oracle, Sybase and TIBCO. The company has offices worldwide. Please visit www.autonomy.com to find out more. About HP HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure at the convergence of the cloud and connectivity, creating seamless, secure, context-aware experiences for a connected world. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com. (1) This statement regarding earnings enhancement is not intended to be a profit forecast and should not be interpreted to mean that the earnings per HP share, or of the combined group, for the current or future financial periods will necessarily be greater than those for the relevant preceding financial period. (2) Autonomy non-IFRS adjusted numbers, which exclude the effect of certain specific, nonrecurring and non-cash charges. (3) This statement regarding earnings enhancement is not intended to be a profit forecast and should not be interpreted to mean that the earnings per HP share, or of the combined group, for the current or future financial periods will necessarily be greater than those for the relevant preceding financial period. THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NEITHER AN OFFER TO PURCHASE NOR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY SECURITIES. THE OFFER WILL BE MADE SOLELY BY THE OFFER DOCUMENT AND THE RELATED FORM OF ACCEPTANCE ACCOMPANYING THE OFFER DOCUMENT, WHICH WILL CONTAIN THE FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER, INCLUDING DETAILS OF HOW THE OFFER MAY BE ACCEPTED. This document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements about the expected benefits and costs of the transaction; statements about the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations, including the execution of integration plans; statements about the expected timing of the completion of the transaction; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include that the transaction may not be timely completed, if at all, upon favorable terms; the possibility that expected benefits of the transaction may not materialize as expected; that, prior to the completion of the transaction, Autonomy’s business may not perform as expected due to transaction-related uncertainty or other factors; that HP is unable to successfully implement integration strategies; and other risks that are described in HP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 and HP’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including HP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2011. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements. © 2011 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. |
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