Filed by Hewlett-Packard Company Pursuant to Rule 425
Under the Securities Act of 1933
And Deemed Filed Pursuant to Rule 14a-12
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: Compaq Computer Corporation
Commission File No.: 1-9026
This filing relates to a planned merger (the "Merger") between Hewlett-Packard
Company ("HP") and Compaq Computer Corporation ("Compaq") pursuant to the terms
of an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of September 4, 2001 (the
"Merger Agreement"), by and among HP, Heloise Merger Corporation and Compaq. The
Merger Agreement is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K, as amended, filed by Hewlett-Packard
Company on September 4, 2001, and is incorporated by reference into this filing.
On December 20, 2001, HP issued the following press release. The press release
is also posted on HP's internal web site.
HP COMPAQ PROPOSED MERGER RECEIVES CLEARANCE
FROM CANADIAN COMPETITION BUREAU
-- CANADIAN BUREAU FIRST TO GIVE GO-AHEAD --
MISSISSAUGA and RICHMOND HILL, Ontario, Dec. 20, 2001 -- Hewlett-Packard
(Canada) Ltd. and Compaq Canada Corp. today announced that the Canadian
Competition Bureau has completed its review of the proposed merger of the two
companies and has found no issues of competitive concern.
"We are delighted with the bureau's decision," said Paul Tsaparis, president and
chief executive officer, HP Canada. "It removes one of the major regulatory
hurdles required to complete the merger and become a stronger, enduring,
market-leading company better able to serve customers and create value for
shareholders, in Canada and around the world."
"This is a very important step forward as we move toward completing our merger
with HP," said David Booth, president and managing director, Compaq Canada Corp.
"We will continue to convey the benefits of the merger to our customers, our
shareholders and to other authorities worldwide as we prepare to create the new
HP."
ABOUT COMPAQ
Compaq Computer Corporation is a leading global provider of enterprise
technology and solutions. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures and markets
hardware, software, solutions and services, including industry-leading
enterprise storage and computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical
solutions, communication products, and desktop and portable personal computers
that are sold in more than 200 countries. Information on Compaq and its products
and services is available at www.compaq.com.
ABOUT HP
Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of computing and imaging
solutions and services -- is focused on making technology and its benefits
accessible to all. HP had total revenue of $45.2 billion in its 2001 fiscal
year. Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web
at http://www.hp.com.
PRESS CONTACTS
For HP Canada: For Compaq Canada Corp.:
Angela Rea Rob Ireland
+1 905 206 3493 +1 416 229 8924
angela_rea@hp.com rob.irelandl@compaq.com
For HP: For Compaq:
Rebeca Robboy Arch Currid
+1 650 857 2064 +1 281 414 6919
rebeca_robboy@hp.com arch.currid@compaq.com
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks,
uncertainties and assumptions. If any of these risks or uncertainties
materializes or any of these assumptions proves incorrect, the results of HP and
its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements.
All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that
could be deemed forward-looking statements, including any projections of
earnings, revenues, synergies, accretion or other financial items; any
statements of the plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future
operations, including the execution of integration and restructuring plans and
the anticipated timing of filings, approvals and closings relating to the Merger
or other planned acquisitions; any statements concerning proposed new products,
services, developments or industry rankings; any statements regarding future
economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief and any statements
of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.
The risks, uncertainties and assumptions referred to above include the ability
of HP to retain and motivate key employees; the timely development, production
and acceptance of products and services and their feature sets; the challenge of
managing asset levels, including inventory; the flow of products into
third-party distribution channels; the difficulty of keeping expense growth at
modest levels while increasing revenues; the challenges of integration and
restructuring associated with the Merger or other planned acquisitions and the
challenges of achieving anticipated synergies; the possibility that the Merger
or other planned acquisitions may not close or that HP, Compaq or other parties
to planned acquisitions may be required to modify some aspects of the
acquisition transactions in order to obtain regulatory approvals; the assumption
of maintaining revenues on a combined company basis following the close of the
Merger or other planned acquisitions; and other risks that are described from
time to time in HP's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including but
not limited to the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31,
2000 and HP's registration statement on Form S-4 filed on November 15, 2001.
HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking
statements.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGER AND WHERE TO FIND IT
On November 15, 2001, HP filed a registration statement with the SEC containing
a preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the Merger. Investors
and security holders of HP and Compaq are urged to read the preliminary joint
proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on November 15, 2001 and the
definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available and any
other relevant materials filed by HP or Compaq with the SEC because they
contain, or will contain, important information about HP, Compaq and the Merger.
The definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to the security
holders of HP and Compaq seeking their approval of the proposed transaction. The
preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on November 15,
2001, the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant
materials (when they become available), and any other documents filed by HP or
Compaq with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's web site at
www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies
of the documents filed with the SEC by HP by contacting HP Investor Relations,
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, California 94304, 650-857-1501. Investors and
security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by
Compaq by contacting Compaq Investor Relations, P.O. Box 692000, Houston, Texas
77269-2000, 800-433-2391. Investors and security holders are urged to read the
definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant materials
when they become available before making any voting or investment decision with
respect to the Merger.
HP, Carleton S. Fiorina, HP's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer,
Robert P. Wayman, HP's Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration and
Chief Financial Officer, and certain of HP's other executive officers and
directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from
the stockholders of HP and Compaq in favor of the Merger. The other executive
officers and directors of HP who may be participants in the solicitation of
proxies in connection with the Merger have not been determined as of the date of
this filing. A description of the interests of Ms. Fiorina, Mr. Wayman and HP's
other executive officers and directors in HP is set forth in the proxy statement
for HP's 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on
January 25, 2001. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed
information regarding the direct and indirect interests of Ms. Fiorina, Mr.
Wayman and HP's other executive officers and directors in the Merger by reading
the preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on November
15, 2001 and the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes
available.
Pursuant to an engagement letter dated July 25, 2001, HP retained Goldman, Sachs
& Co. ("Goldman Sachs") to act as its financial advisor in connection with the
Merger. In connection with the engagement of Goldman Sachs as financial advisor,
HP anticipates that employees of Goldman Sachs may communicate in person, by
telephone or otherwise with certain institutions, brokers or other persons who
are stockholders for the purpose of assisting in the solicitation of proxies in
favor of the Merger. Although Goldman Sachs does not admit that it or any of its
directors, officers, employees or affiliates is a "participant," as defined in
Schedule 14A under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or that
Schedule 14A requires the disclosure of certain information concerning them in
connection with the Merger, Gene Sykes (Managing Director), Matthew L'Heureux
(Managing Director), George Lee (Vice President) and Jean Manas (Vice
President), in each case of Goldman Sachs, may assist HP in the solicitation of
proxies in favor of the Merger.
Compaq and Michael D. Capellas, Compaq's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
and certain of Compaq's other executive officers and directors may be deemed to
be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Compaq
and HP in favor of the Merger. The other executive officers and directors of
Compaq who may be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with
the Merger have not been determined as of the date of this filing. A description
of the interests of Mr. Capellas and Compaq's other executive officers and
directors in Compaq is set forth in the proxy statement for Compaq's 2001 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 12, 2001.
Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding
the direct and indirect interests of Mr. Capellas and Compaq's other executive
officers and directors in the Merger by reading the preliminary joint proxy
statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on November 15, 2001 and the definitive
joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available.
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