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By Ian Fried
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
March 11, 2002, 4:20 PM PT


In a symbolic victory for Hewlett-Packard, a major group of HP customers
said Monday that it plans to vote its shares in favor of the company's bid
to acquire Compaq Computer.
Interex, the International Association of HP Computing Professionals, said
its board voted unanimously to support the deal. An Interex representative
could not immediately say how many shares of HP's stock the group owns.

"We believe our members will enjoy the inherent benefits of a marriage
between HP and Compaq," Interex Chairman Bob Combs said in a statement. "The
merger of these two industry pioneers will give Interex members broader
access to leading technology, R&D programs, marketing, and service and
support, enabling them to strengthen their computing platforms."

Although it is not a major shareholder, the decision by Interex is an
indication of how one important group of customers feels. And the decision
follows on the heels of a similar move by ITUG, whose members use high-end
Compaq systems. That decision came the same day as HP won a key endorsement
from Institutional Shareholder Services, an advisor to mutual funds and
other large investors.

The decision arrives as HP and dissident board member Walter Hewlett
proselytize ahead of next week's vote of HP shareholders. Both sides
expressed confidence Monday that they had enough support to garner the
necessary majority of shares in the March 19 vote.

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