HP shares hit by $14bn move to buy EDS

Shares of Hewlett-Packard fell 7 per cent, adding to a slide of 5 per cent on Monday after the world’s biggest information technology group agreed to pay $13.9bn for Electronic Data Systems, the IT services company

• Small matter of the Big Blue challenge
• Lex: Hewlett-Packard buys EDS

Renova adds Oerlikon to its Swiss conquests

The holding company for Viktor Vekselberg has gained boardroom control of the high technology group, underlining the Russian oligarch’s increasing presence in Switzerland

Brussels probes Microsoft on schools’ costs

European competition authorities are to look into allegations by Becta that practices by the software company have restricted choice and driven up costs

Revenue leap at revamped Invu

The Aim-listed supplier of document management software to small companies lifted annual revenue 38 per cent to £8.7m in spite of early hiccups with its latest product

Small matter of the Big Blue challenge

If Hewlett-Packard thinks its purchase of EDS will immediately put it toe-to-toe with IBM, the market leader’s own long and difficult ride in the IT services sector should make its new challenger think again

Lex: HP wants EDS

Hewlett Packard will find it hard convincing its own shareholders that it can successfully integrate a different business and that it is worth paying a premium in order to try

Gates picks Microsoft chief to run his charity

Jeff Raikes, the former head of the software maker’s business division, will take over in September as chief executive of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Hurd moves to cement HP’s revival

Mark Hurd, chief executive, is close to completing the acquisition of EDS in a deal that would catapult Hewlett-Packard into second place in the IT service business