NYSE Selects HP to Bring Speed to Online Stock Trading System

HP today announced that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) has selected HP servers to improve the efficiency of its online stock trading system, the NYSE Hybrid MarketSM.

In a business environment where milliseconds matter, the NYSE Hybrid Market is relying on rack-based HP ProLiant DL585 servers, ProLiant BL685c server blades and Integrity NonStop servers to grow its business by ensuring that its online trading transactions occur with the speed and accuracy customers expect.

“We’re proud that the largest stock exchange in the world chose HP to improve the performance of its IT architecture,” said Paul Miller, vice president, Enterprise Servers and Storage, HP. “HP technology is ideally suited to serve as the backbone for the NYSE Hybrid Market’s IT infrastructure, which routinely handles more than 500 million messages a day.”

HP server technologies are helping the NYSE Hybrid Market adhere to the Securities and Exchange Commission-governed Regulation National Markets System, which is a series of initiatives designed to modernize and strengthen the national market system for equity securities.

HP ProLiant servers deliver the processing power required to manage daily trading volumes that peak or spike at any given time without any execution delays. The servers have reduced the average trade-execution turnaround time from seconds to milliseconds. In addition, HP technology allows customers using the Hybrid Market to automatically trade up to 1 million shares in a single order – up from 1,099. That equals a potential 900-fold improvement in trade volume, which can help improve the NYSE’s bottom line.

“During the past several years, the requirements of investors and securities companies have significantly changed,” said Steve Rubinow, chief information officer, NYSE. “Although order commitment reliability is certainly paramount, users want a trading platform with flawless execution and transaction speed. HP is helping us deliver it all through these dependable server platforms.”

In addition to assisting with its core trading infrastructure, which has been driven by NonStop servers for nearly 30 years, HP has supplied the NYSE with HP StorageWorks XP12000 storage arrays to run the critical applications that keep the trading floor up and running. The arrays connect to the ProLiant DL585, BL685c and Integrity NonStop servers to ensure real-time data is always available.

HP also will use its expertise in Linux to help the NYSE deploy a more flexible and cost-effective operating system for application development, deployment and maintenance.

More information on HP ProLiant servers is available at www.hp.com/go/proliant, on HP BladeSystem at www.hp.com/go/bladesystem, and on HP Integrity NonStop at www.hp.com/go/nonstop.

About HP

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers – from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world’s largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $104.3 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended Oct. 31, 2007. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.

HP to Expand Data Center Services with Acquisition of Global Consulting Company EYP Mission Critical Facilities

HP today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire EYP Mission Critical Facilities Inc. (EYP MCF), a consulting company specializing in strategic technology planning, design and operations support for large-scale data centers.

By acquiring EYP MCF, HP will be better able to help customers to transform their data centers, optimize energy efficiency and position them for future business growth. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in New York, EYP MCF has approximately 350 employees with 13 offices in the United States and the U.K. The firm provides mission-critical services to enterprises around the world in business sectors including financial services, telecommunications, technology, broadcast, manufacturing and healthcare, as well as numerous federal, state and county government agencies.

From data centers and command and control centers, to trading floors and supercomputing sites, EYP MCF has designed hundreds of technology-intensive, high-performance facilities where monitoring, operational and energy efficiencies are top-priority business requirements.

EYP MCF’s capabilities – particularly its expertise in energy-efficient operations – complement HP’s extensive Data Center Services and cost-saving power and cooling solutions, such as Dynamic Smart Cooling.

“The data center is the foundation of IT for enterprises, an essential building block for driving business growth and adapting to changing business objectives,” said John McCain, senior vice president and general manager, HP Services. “Acquiring EYP Mission Critical Facilities boosts HP’s ability to help customers transform their data centers and build dynamic computing environments from the ground up.”

Peter Gross, chief executive officer of EYP MCF, said, “Worldwide data center requirements are rapidly growing, with significant year-over-year increases in power consumption, which is fueling demand for energy-efficient power and cooling strategies. HP and EYP Mission Critical Facilities will drive innovation by integrating IT infrastructure into the planning and design of the data center, enabling the customer’s whole organization to be more energy efficient and adaptive.”

The transaction is subject to certain closing conditions and is expected to be completed within HP’s first fiscal quarter.

HP Closes Neoware Acquisition

HP today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Neoware Inc., a provider of thin client computing and virtualization solutions, at a fully diluted, enterprise value (net of cash) basis of approximately $214 million.

With the acquisition of King of Prussia, Pa.-based Neoware, HP plans to use the best of both companies’ technologies to create thin clients that are easier to deploy, more secure and more affordable. The deal will also extend HP’s regional sales reach.

Thin clients provide a higher level of security, can reduce maintenance costs, and consume less electricity compared to other desk-based computing products because they contain no local data, no moving parts, utilize low-power components and connect over a network to remote blade PCs and servers where data processing and storage occurs.

“The integration of Neoware will enable us to offer the industry’s broadest portfolio of remote client solutions that deliver the most secure, reliable and easily managed computing infrastructure available today,” said Kevin Frost, vice president, Business Desktops, Personal Systems Group, HP. “Our top priority is to ensure that Neoware and HP deliver uncompromised product and business continuity to our combined customers.“

Prior to the acquisition, HP was the worldwide leader in each of the Microsoft Windows® XPe, Windows CE and Linux thin client categories. Acquiring Neoware is expected to boost HP’s thin-client business in the areas of Linux software, client virtualization and customization capabilities.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, Neoware stockholders will receive $16.25 for each share of Neoware stock that they held at the closing of the acquisition and the company will be integrated into the Business Desktop unit of HP’s Personal Systems Group.

About HP

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers – from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world’s largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $100.5 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended July 31, 2007. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.

HP Board Approves Policies on Stockholder Rights Plans, Executive Compensation

HP today announced that the HP board of directors has approved an amendment to the company’s bylaws regarding stockholder rights plans and that the company has adopted a new long-term executive compensation program, confirming its longstanding policy on performance-based pay.

The amendment to HP’s bylaws formalizes the company’s existing policy that, subject to a limited fiduciary exception, the HP board will seek stockholder approval prior to its adoption or extension of a stockholder rights plan. It also states that any stockholder rights plan adopted or extended by the HP board without prior stockholder approval pursuant to the fiduciary exception will expire unless ratified by the stockholders of HP within one year of adoption.

The HP board’s HR and Compensation Committee approved a new program, effective with the fiscal 2008 compensation review cycle, under which most equity grants will vest only upon the satisfaction of financial performance criteria over a three-year period. In doing so, it confirmed its policy that a significant portion of long-term incentive compensation for senior executives should be performance-based. The structure of the new program reflects an updated approach to performance-based plan design.

The details of the program, including specific performance metrics and targets, are still in development. HP expects to provide more information regarding the new program in HP’s proxy statement for its 2008 annual meeting of stockholders.

The bylaw amendment and new equity compensation program were adopted in response to proposals stockholders submitted and approved at HP’s most recent annual stockholder meeting held on March 14, 2007. They are disclosed in a Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

About HP

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers – from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world’s largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $100.5 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended July 31, 2007. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.

HP Closes Opsware Acquisition

HP today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Opsware Inc., the leader in data center automation, which is one of the fastest growing segments in IT operations.

The deal combines Opsware’s industry-leading IT automation offerings with HP Software’s business and IT service management capabilities to boost HP’s Business Technology Optimization portfolio of enterprise IT management software.

BTO is a category of software and services that enable chief information officers to enhance the value and optimize business outcomes from their IT investments.

“With Opsware, we have elevated HP’s relevance to CIOs with products and solutions to help them transform and drive the next generation of data centers,” said Thomas E. Hogan, senior vice president, Software, HP. “By reducing operational costs and improving efficiencies through IT automation, CIOs can invest in strategic growth initiatives to drive value and competitive advantage for their companies.”

HP also announced that it has appointed Opsware Chief Executive Officer Ben Horowitz to lead the Business Technology Optimization organization reporting to Hogan.

Upon the closing of the acquisition, all remaining outstanding Opsware shares, other than those held by stockholders who properly perfect appraisal rights under Delaware law, were converted into the right to receive $14.25 per share in cash. As a result of the transaction, Opsware has become a subsidiary of HP.

About HP

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers – from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world’s largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $100.5 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended July 31, 2007. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.

HP Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Pelikan

HP today announced that the company has notified Germany-based Pelikan Hardcopy Deutschland GmbH of print cartridge and ink formulation patent infringement.

The cartridges in question are apparently new, as opposed to remanufactured, products. They are being sold under the Pelikan brand and designated as H06 and H08 color cartridges. HP filed a lawsuit in the Dϋsseldorf District Court detailing the believed infringements.

As part of the lawsuit, HP requested that Pelikan stop infringing HP patents. The discovery of Pelikan’s alleged infringement is the result of ongoing worldwide testing and enforcement efforts within HP’s Imaging and Printing Group.