From: ajs@fc.hp.com (Alan Silverstein) (now ajs@frii.com) Date: 30 Jul 2002 11:54:21 -0700 Subject: ASL press release Newsgroups: hp.misc ASL, HPQ CANCEL MERGER TALKS -- July 30, 2002 Fort Collins (PN) -- Alan Silverstein Limited (ASL, privately traded) announced the cessation of further negotiations on a potential merger with New-Hewlett-Packard-Compaq-Fiorina Company (HPQ, NYSE). The CEO, President, Chairman, and HR Manager of ASL, who prefers to remain anonymous to avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest, said today, "After 25 years of ongoing, cordial, but ultimately fruitless talks, taking a lesson from HPQ's esteemed CEO, it's time we walked away from this non-starter." Numerous ASL stockholders were saddened but not surprised by this announcement. However, the ASL CEO expressed more relief than disappointment. "HPQ was fun to negotiate with over the years, we did a lot of valuable business with them on the side, and the parting was amicable even though ultimately we did not come to terms on our takeover, errr, merger. Furthermore, HPQ has offered a substantial cash incentive to ASL to break off the relationship." When asked about his company's future plans, the ASL CEO lost his composure and could only be heard to mumble, "go forward, move forward, going forward... Going, going, gone, FORWARD dammit, accretive synergies, going, moving, forward..." In related ironic news, an ASL spokesthing reported the acceptance today of four "Judy" patents by the European Patent Office. Rights to these patents were granted to HPQ under terms of the long-running merger negotiations now ended. After the announcement HPQ was up 7.16% to 13.91 in moderate trading. ASL's private stockholders were unavailable for comment, although at least one had already expressed resigned acceptance of her pending reduction in allowa##### dividends. (In case it's not clear, I was WFR'd => Work Force Restructured => downsized => laid off. I was formally notified 8/5, last possible work day was 8/9 but I exited 8/6 due to a long-planned raft trip through Cataract Canyon; terminated 10/11 after a generous 9-week "off-site on-payroll job search period.")