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.
The following article relating to the Merger discusses a shareowner letter and
financial presentation filed by HP with the SEC and delivered to HP investors.
The article is posted on HP's internal web site.
SEC FILING
HEWLETT-PACKARD FILES NEW DOCUMENTS WITH THE SEC THAT PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION
REGARDING THE BENEFITS OF THE HP-COMPAQ MERGER.
On December 19, Hewlett-Packard filed a letter to HP shareowners and a slide
set, "HP Position on Compaq Merger," with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC).
Signed by HP CEO Carly Fiorina and Compaq CEO Michael Capellas, the shareowner
letter reaffirms both boards' conviction in the merger.
"We wanted to take this opportunity to inform you that as we move through the
regulatory approval process and complete our proxy statement filing," states the
letter, "we will be communicating directly and fully to all shareowners about
why this transaction represents the very best way to create value for
shareowners, customers and employees."
The "HP Position on Compaq Merger" document provides additional details about
the merger, including how the merger:
o provides a unique opportunity to address multiple strategic
challenges;
o creates a fundamentally stronger company; and
o has compelling financial benefits for the company and shareowners.
Also included in the document are some summary observations on Walter Hewlett's
SEC filings regarding the merger.
"Your Board of Directors and management, together with outside experts," the
letter concludes, "has engaged in a deep and thorough analysis of this merger
and remain convinced this combination represents the single best way to drive
industry leadership and growth."
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 creation of benefits and
opportunities; industry and customer trends; sources and rates of future growth
of both our business and markets generally; improved profitability and operating
margins; future earnings and accretion to earnings and/or share price;
achievement of synergies; overall revenue impact of the merger and segment
contribution margins; execution of integration; differentiation against
competitors; improvements to operating model, cost structure and customer
access; planned strategies and objectives of future operations; and statements
of belief or assumptions regarding any of the foregoing, whether express or
implied.
The risks, uncertainties and assumptions referred to above include the
challenges of integration and restructuring associated with the merger and
achieving anticipated synergies; 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 possibility that the merger may not close or that HP or
Compaq may be required to modify some aspects of the merger in order to obtain
regulatory approvals; the difficulty of maintaining pro forma market share and
revenue following the merger. These risks and other risks that may impact the
forward-looking statements in this document are described further in HP's SEC
reports, including but not limited to the annual report on Form 10-K for the
year ended Oct. 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.
* * * * *