Conspiracy Theory

Post #7,804 by Andrew Grygus 9/6/01 11:02:51 AM Reply	Conspiracy Theory 1. Carly attempts takeover of Compaq knowing it will fail. 2. Compaq is presented as too weak to even be a worthwhile takeover target. 3. After long highly publicized shareholder battle, deal is called off. HP stock rebounds. 4. Compaq is left a shambles with a reputation that it's going to fail. Corps shun Compaq computers in favor of HP and Dell - Compaq goes into accelerated decline. 5. Carly gets her bonus for near destruction of major competitor. Even if that isn't the real plan, it may work out that way anyway. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #7,805 by CRConrad 9/6/01 11:08:24 AM Reply	Only one question: Why does Don Capellas go along with it?
Post #7,811 by Andrew Grygus 9/6/01 11:36:16 AM Reply	Well, he wasn't told . . . . . the real agenda. To him it looked like an easy way out of his troubles - and an opportunity to be president of a company twice the size. Or, maybe he's got a weakness for rich, powerful, good looking women, and she just wrapped him around her finger. Or maybe [link\|http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/28/21481.html\|The Register] has the real scoop. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #7,874 by gdaustin 9/6/01 7:33:14 PM Reply	Re: Well, he wasn't told . . . If you're a finance guy and someone shows up and offers you stock making your company worth a lot, YOU TAKE IT! Unfortunately, many of these guys didn't go to class during the failed merger MBA course, where you discover that you expose all your shortcomings and weaknesses during the due diligence period and your former merger partner, now competitor, takes those facts and shreds you to pieces. It happened to Neon with both IBM and BEA. Both started to buy the company, did the DD, and discovered that the technology was the only thing worth buying. So they bought the technology without buying the company. Now, both IBM and BEA are "evolving" their software away from Neon (having used their technology as a starting point), and by the time the licensing agreements expire, both with have new "data integration products" competing with Neon at exactly the time Neon will have no budget for new development and will be teetering on bankruptcy. Sounds like Carly Fiorina, Bill Coleman, and Lou Gerstner all went to a better MBA school (or maybe they just have superior "strategy" skills) than the CEOs of Neon and Compaq. Viva HP! Viva IBM! Viva BEA! ( I guess you could add Microsoft in there, too. ) Glen Austin
Post #7,895 by wharris2 9/6/01 11:38:14 PM Reply	Sleeping with the enemy? It does seem as if they got along rather swimmingly. French Zombies are zapping me with lasers!

Welcome to IWETHEY!