Dell Buying Perot Systems For $3.9 Billion

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Dell Buying Perot Systems For $3.9 Billion

Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday September 21, 2009 @02:15AM from the thats-a-fat-bankroll dept.

alphadogg writes "Dell has agreed to buy Perot Systems for around $3.9 billion in cash, and intends to make the company its global services delivery division, the companies said Monday.The deal will allow Dell to expand its range of IT services, and potentially allow it to sell more hardware to existing Perot customers, it said. Dell's rival Hewlett-Packard expanded its own global services unit with the acquisition of EDS for $13.9 billion in May 2008. Over the last four quarters, Dell and Perot together had revenue of $16 billion from enterprise hardware and IT services, with $8 billion coming from enhanced services and support, Dell said. Perot's contribution to that is relatively small: In 2008, the company reported total revenue of $2.78 billion."

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fake by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 02:17 · Score: 2, Funny

this is obviously photoshopped
1. Re:fake by rhsanborn · 2009-09-21 02:59 · Score: 1
  
  Mods: This is a play on words (Ross Perot) and then a reference to the scandal involving faked nude photos of his daughter. A strained joke at best, but not off-topic. http://www.famoustexans.com/rossperot.htm
2. Re:fake by artemis67 · 2009-09-21 08:30 · Score: 1
  
  That is HIGH-larious!
I'll believe it... by damn_registrars · 2009-09-21 02:31 · Score: 4, Funny

... when I see the pie charts presented to show it happened.

--
Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
1. Re:I'll believe it... by rickkw · 2009-09-21 02:44 · Score: 1
  
  or in the 2012 presidential bid
2. Re:I'll believe it... by Thing+1 · 2009-09-21 03:27 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  My favorite moment from the 1992 debates: "And if you have a better idea [waitforit] ... I'm all ears!"
  
  --
  I feel fantastic, and I'm still alive.
3. Re:I'll believe it... by uvajed_ekil · 2009-09-21 11:07 · Score: 1
  
  CAN I FINISH!?!?
  
  --
  This is a hacked account, for which the owner can not be held responsible.
Hmm... by Mad-Bassist · 2009-09-21 02:40 · Score: 3, Interesting

If I only had .0256% of that deal!
It would have been more entertaining if Perot bought Dell, then maybe I'd like them. After all, he caused the world's largest jailbreak that appears in the Guinness Book.

--
"The only legitimate use of a computer is to play games." - Eugene Jarvis
Obligatory political joke by dkleinsc · 2009-09-21 02:41 · Score: 3, Funny

I think workers at Perot Systems just heard a giant sucking sound.

--
I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
1. Re:Obligatory political joke by Old97 · 2009-09-21 02:46 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  The heard that when they were hired.
  
  --
  Very often, people confuse simple with simplistic. The nuance is lost on most. - Clement Mok
2. Re:Obligatory political joke by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 03:44 · Score: 0
  
  As a former Perot employee, I assure you there is plenty of suck to go around. Not sure what I signed when I left 3-4 years ago, so I will stick to anonymous for now.
3. Re:Obligatory political joke by Lord+Ender · 2009-09-21 05:27 · Score: 1
  
  I've seen job ads for Pertot Systems. Their positions are pathetic. They are all for limited time periods only--no full-time positions are offered.
  Who would take a job when you know you'll get the axe in six months?
  
  --
  A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
4. Re:Obligatory political joke by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 08:07 · Score: 0
  
  I've never checked out their private sector jobs, but they have quite a few gov't jobs available for full time. Try looking on their website, they have quite a few jobs that are full time.
5. Re:Obligatory political joke by BosstonesOwn · 2009-09-21 08:39 · Score: 1
  
  The poor slackers like me who have been forced to take contract jobs since we are labeled as contractors once you do a couple in a row.
  
  --
  This package Does Not Contain a Winner
6. Re:Obligatory political joke by altek · 2009-09-21 09:58 · Score: 1
  
  That is simply, purely not true.
  I know many people who work for Perot Systems that are full-time, non-contract employees. Maybe the ads you saw were for contract positions, but your statement that they ONLY hire contract employees is simply false.
  
  --
  THE MAGIC WORDS ARE SQUEAMISH OSSIFRAGE
The acquisition negotiations... by Tetsujin · 2009-09-21 02:41 · Score: 3, Funny

Dell: So, we were thinking we'd like to buy-
Perot: Can I finish?
Dell: Yes, but-
Perot: Can I finish... Can I finish can I finish can I finish?
Dell: well, naturally-
Perot: Can I finish?

--
Bow-ties are cool.
1. Re:The acquisition negotiations... by nsanders · 2009-09-21 03:08 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Negotiations were followed up by a nice serving of broccoli. Freshly chopped.
2. Re:The acquisition negotiations... by Datamonstar · 2009-09-21 03:14 · Score: 1
  
  Yo, Perot Systems. I really happy for you and all that, but Dell has made one of the best systems of all time! Of all time! *hands the mic back, shrugs and walks off*
  
  --
  The eternal struggle of good vs. evil begins within one's self.
3. Re:The acquisition negotiations... by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 03:34 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Yo, Datamonstar, I'm really happy for you, and Imma let you finish, but you just butchered one of the best memes of ALL TIME!
4. Re:The acquisition negotiations... by skudenfaugen · 2009-09-21 10:04 · Score: 1
  
  Dana Carvey, is that you?
5. Re:The acquisition negotiations... by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 11:38 · Score: 0
  
  1992 called. They want their SNL sketch back.
Interesting Buy.... by idiotnot · 2009-09-21 02:48 · Score: 4, Insightful

...and somewhat a reaction to HP's buy of EDS, I think.
Perot has some penetration inside the federal government, though I've never encountered one of their workers. Most of the job adverts I've seen require TS/SCI, so, probably some interesting stuff.
The question is whether Dell will be able to leverage it into other areas. I'm not sure how bright the future is in government IT services these days, following the monumental clusterfucks that HP and NG have chaperoned last few years (NMCI, and VITC).
1. Re:Interesting Buy.... by psergiu · 2009-09-21 03:47 · Score: 1
  
  > though I've never encountered one of their workers.
  They're skilled ninjas. You cannot see them :)
  
  --
  1% APY, No fees, Online Bank https://captl1.co/2uIErYq Don't let your $$$ sit in a no-interest acct.
2. Re:Interesting Buy.... by chipset · 2009-09-21 03:47 · Score: 1
  
  They also have other markets, including health care. That was the group I was working with when they were one of my customers.
3. Re:Interesting Buy.... by DarthVain · 2009-09-21 04:52 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Government Healthcare. In the medium/long term there are going to be some big contracts to be had. This is likely Dell positioning for these potential contracts. Having a global footprint doesn't hurt. Also HP did it so it must be a good idea. 4B is nothing to shake a stick at so one must think this was a very carefully thought out acquisition.
4. Re:Interesting Buy.... by squidguy · 2009-09-21 06:25 · Score: 1
  
  The question is whether Dell will be able to leverage it into other areas. I'm not sure how bright the future is in government IT services these days, following the monumental clusterfucks that HP and NG have chaperoned last few years (NMCI, and VITC).
  
  Let us not forget that EDS was once owned (and started) by H. Ross Perot. Let us also not forget that Dell is part of the current NMCI team.
  And to quote H. Ross himself: ...a giant sucking sound...
5. Re:Interesting Buy.... by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 09:23 · Score: 0
  
  Let's not forget that EDS has the contract and subcontracted Dell for the installs.
6. Re:Interesting Buy.... by uvajed_ekil · 2009-09-21 11:20 · Score: 1
  
  Not that Jim Cramer is known for being right, but he had a funny take on this, and a great comparison. HP was Gallant and made a decent, prudent acquisition that compliments what they already do well, while late-to-the-party Dell was Goofus, making a poor purchase to answer HP. EDS was a successful and relatively innovative company that had something to bring to HP, whereas Perot is heavy into healthcare and isn't unique. The price paid per is also a hell of a lot more, compared to earnings. Oh Dell, get out of your own way once in a while. Sure doesn't make me want to buy Dell stock.
  
  --
  This is a hacked account, for which the owner can not be held responsible.
7. Re:Interesting Buy.... by uvajed_ekil · 2009-09-21 11:27 · Score: 1
  
  Forgot: EDS 2008 revenue - $22 billion, HP paid - $14 billion Perot 2008 revenue - $2.8 billion, Dell paid - $3.9 billion EDS is arguably the perfect match for hardware behemoth HP, while Perot is perhaps not such a great addition to Dell. Maybe it will help, maybe not, but everyone is making these comparisons.
  
  --
  This is a hacked account, for which the owner can not be held responsible.
$3.9 billion in cash by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 02:50 · Score: 0

What bank does one go to, for a briefcase with $3.9 billion in cash?
Inigo Montoya: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
1. Re:$3.9 billion in cash by smaerd · 2009-09-21 02:59 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  It's "cash" as in "not in shares of stock".
2. Re:$3.9 billion in cash by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 03:37 · Score: 0
  
  So it's not cash, as in money. Cold Hard Cash.
  It's a check, or a credit transfer, or a bank wire.
3. Re:$3.9 billion in cash by cthulu_mt · 2009-09-21 05:20 · Score: 1
  
  It's as good as money. /yogi
  
  --
  Virginia is for lovers. EVE is for griefers.
4. Re:$3.9 billion in cash by afidel · 2009-09-21 08:12 · Score: 1
  
  Normally it's stated as cash or cash equivalents which could mean all sorts of easily convertible short term holdings as well as actual account balances. Though one would hope you wouldn't have $4B in actual account balances as even with a return of less than a percent you are talking real money.
  
  --
  There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
Whaaat? by AdmiralXyz · 2009-09-21 02:51 · Score: 1

This is a horrible purchase for Dell. This is like trying to jam three cows in your chicken coop. Ain't gonna work! Just look at this chart!

--
Dislike the Electoral College? Lobby your state to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
1. Re:Whaaat? by cmiller173 · 2009-09-21 03:08 · Score: 1
  
  Wait, I thought gateway was the one with the cows....
I can just hear by ubermiester · 2009-09-21 02:54 · Score: 2

the giant sucking sound of IT jobs being outsourced to India and China.
1. Re:I can just hear by psergiu · 2009-09-21 03:32 · Score: 1
  
  ... and Romania.
  
  --
  1% APY, No fees, Online Bank https://captl1.co/2uIErYq Don't let your $$$ sit in a no-interest acct.
2. Re:I can just hear by Creepy · 2009-09-21 04:37 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Good luck on that.
  H Ross Perot Sr owned companies were already big on outsourcing before outsourcing was even popular - when EDS (also started by Perot - he was on the board of directors for part of the time I was there) bought a company I worked for the first thing they did was gut benefits and lay off 20% of the US workforce (and in the next two years layoffs were roughly 40%, even though the division I was in grew by 6x) and move those jobs to India - and that was in 2000. If anything Dell moves people from India to China where people are even cheaper to hire.
  The best day of my life was leaving EDS - the constant fear of layoffs, the downward spiral of their stock, their stupid moves like selling profitable divisions and keeping unprofitable ones so their stock wouldn't go junk (what I call the Control Data spin, and yes, I worked for them, too, albeit briefly).
3. Re:I can just hear by Red+Flayer · 2009-09-21 05:32 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  I've met a few people who worked for Perot Systems, and I turned down an offer from them in 2005.
  
  My understanding (from this limited exposure to them) is that Perot Systems operates quite differently from EDS, in that offshoring is limited. Apparently (according to the mid-level managers I'm friends with) Perot Systems is leagues ahead of EDS wrt treatment of employees, keeping jobs onshore, etc. It's possible that the people I know just drank the koolaid, but that's what I've heard.
  
  On another note, Perot Systems lost a lot of jobs in the financial industry in the past year or so. I think it's spin that the press release on the acquisition stresses the healthcare industry jobs... Perot Systems' margins have been shrinking, as have their revenues. I wonder if Dell hasn't bought a ship that's starting to take on a lot of water.
  
  --
  "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
4. Re:I can just hear by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 07:58 · Score: 0
  
  Perot may be good to their people, but for the companies they take over they are as ruthless and shady as it gets. My company recently contracted several datacenters to them for a "huge" cost savings (and certain 6 figure bonuses for healthcare CIO's who voted for the plan). the contract in question included a year of "overlap" time for current employee's to be interrogated for job related knowledge before all being laid off and replaced with perot equivelents (the people they just trained).
  Perot also sold us on relocating operations to a datacenter that wasn't complete (as in still being built), resulting in abysmal QOS for the first year, which, consequently, is the logic they used to remove the old employees for "performance reasons"
Who the hell are Perot Systems by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 02:54 · Score: 0

From TFA: "Perot Systems is one of the largest services companies serving the health-care sector".
Well thank you Mr. I-know-all-the-companies-in-the-world editor.
in cash? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 02:56 · Score: 0

"...$3.9 billion in cash..." That's a lot of physical cash to hand over. Even as hundreds packed in suitcases.
One question... by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 02:58 · Score: 0

As a current employee of HP, who was previously an EDS employee, I have only one question:

Is Dell hiring?
1. Re:One question... by joebagodonuts · 2009-09-21 04:12 · Score: 1
  
  Why? Are you looking to move from frying pan to fire?
  
  --
  "Give a woman two glasses of wine and some pad thai, and they'll agree to just about anything." the Sports Guy
I hope they can find it! by hemp · 2009-09-21 03:14 · Score: 1

I interviewed at their HDQ once and had a slightly hard time finding the facility as they have no name on their building and no address either.
On the plus side, the halls are filled with some of Ross's memorabilia from over the years.

--
Skip ------ See the latest from http://www.anArchyFortWorth.com
Sounds good for Dell by shaitand · 2009-09-21 03:24 · Score: 3, Insightful

Generally speaking buying any company outright that made 2.8bil last year for only 3.9bil is a steal. That's less than half what the company is worth on paper based on earnings alone.
1. Re:Sounds good for Dell by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 03:42 · Score: 0
  
  3.9bil is their revenue and not their earnings.
2. Re:Sounds good for Dell by Arthur+Grumbine · 2009-09-21 04:15 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  "Total Revenue" does not equal "made" in the normal sense. General Motors, now Motors Liquidation Company had Total Revenue for the last twelve months of 129 billion dollars. Yet they lost money overall (gross profit = $-1.6B) over that same period of time. What's their worth on the market right now, if you wanted to buy all their shares? 467 million dollars. Perot Systems did turn a gross profit of $487 million over the last year, but that puts the buy price at 8 times the yearly profit, maybe a good deal (there's a lot of other factors that are important, though) but not as much of a "steal" as you might have thought.
  
  Generally speaking, speaking in generalities about a particular case is not always the wisest thing to do. Especially in something as complex as buying a multi-billion dollar corporation.
  
  --
  Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure everything I just said is completely wrong.
3. Re:Sounds good for Dell by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 05:43 · Score: 0
  
  General Motors, now Motors Liquidation Company
  Ahh, so GM have rebranded as a as a manufacturer of food processor motors. That's such a good move for them. I hear that, along with their food processor business, they're also planning a food company called Soylent, which will be very environmentally friendly.
4. Re:Sounds good for Dell by timeOday · 2009-09-21 08:45 · Score: 1
  
  General Motors, now Motors Liquidation Company had Total Revenue for the last twelve months of 129 billion dollars. Yet they lost money overall (gross profit = $-1.6B) over that same period of time. What's their worth on the market right now, if you wanted to buy all their shares? 467 million dollars.
  It's not accurate to say that General Motors is now Motors Liquidation Company. Under the terms of the bankruptcy and reorganization, everything of value was sold off to other carmakers or reorganized into a new company, "General Motors Company LLC," which will have an IPO next year. Motors Liquidation Company is just the detritus, a shell left behind to parcel out the scraps. It's amazing the stock is even worth 476 million when this is what its own management has to say:
  
  Management continues to remind investors of its strong belief that there will be no value for the common stockholders in the bankruptcy liquidation process, even under the most optimistic of scenarios. Stockholders of a company in chapter 11 generally receive value only if all claims of the company's secured and unsecured creditors are fully satisfied. In this case, management strongly believes all such claims will not be fully satisfied, leading to its conclusion that the common stock will have no value.
  IMHO allowing GM to reorganize this way is a shell game to place a partition between the valuable assets ad the junk that gets "written off" by bankruptcy, leaving shareholders and creditors holding the bag. But anyways, it would be more fair to value GMC's last year's revenues against the total value of all the pieces it broke into: New GM + Motors Liquidation Company + plus all the brands they sold off (Saturn, Saab, Hummer).
Hmmm; this is REALLY Unhealthy by WindBourne · 2009-09-21 03:30 · Score: 4, Interesting

The reason why MS beat out Apple was never about MS, but about the many PC builders. They were fast and limber in building new systems and designs.

Likewise, the Big 3 car companies were disasters because there was only three (that is why I have been arguing that we needed to break up GM and Chrysler).

Now, you have IBM, HP, Oracle and Dell all doing the same thing. That is they are exporting the jobs to Asia and there is really very little innovation (though in time, both China and India WILL be innovative) due to such few companies. What is needed is not to block this, but the West desperately needs to encourage small companies in all these industries. That means that if Obama, Brown, Sarkozy, Merkel, Harper, Rudd, etc want to bring back manufacturing to the west, they will need to start small companies, and buying from them.

--
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
1. Re:Hmmm; this is REALLY Unhealthy by TheBilgeRat · 2009-09-21 03:42 · Score: 1
  
  At some point in every sector of our economy we will need to address these large bloated corporations. They're slow to innovate, slow to penetrate.
2. Re:Hmmm; this is REALLY Unhealthy by TheBilgeRat · 2009-09-21 03:49 · Score: 1
  
  mod previous redundant; benadryl+monday=dull-eyed mouthbreathing replies.
  seriously. I need a nap.
3. Re:Hmmm; this is REALLY Unhealthy by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 04:46 · Score: 0
  
  They're slow to innovate, slow to penetrate.
  That's what she said!
  Zing!
4. Re:Hmmm; this is REALLY Unhealthy by BosstonesOwn · 2009-09-21 08:46 · Score: 1
  
  Big companies are quick to penetrate ! I constantly get raped by comcast ! and it is neither slow nor painless.
  
  --
  This package Does Not Contain a Winner
5. Re:Hmmm; this is REALLY Unhealthy by TheBilgeRat · 2009-09-21 10:34 · Score: 1
  
  Me too :( they keep telling me I'm asking for it, the way I google so provocatively. They tell me to struggle...I'm so ashamed *sob*
From a former Perotista by MrWin2kMan · 2009-09-21 03:43 · Score: 3, Interesting

I've never worked for a more dysfunctional, management-laden organization than Perot Systems. God help Michael Dell.

--
Nothing to see here but us trolls...move along...
1. Re:From a former Perotista by drummerboybac · 2009-09-21 03:49 · Score: 1
  
  Amen to that. When I started there out of college at an account, they had recently finished taking the company's internal IT, hiring them to Perot, and then screwing many of them out of pensions that kicked in at 25 years, and they were 20+ years in. Talk about low morale. We had one person who was so stressed by the whole situation that they subconsciously lit a cigarette at their desk.
2. Re:From a former Perotista by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 04:02 · Score: 0
  
  Much of what you say was my observation of Perot. Their business model appears to be to hire existing staff away from their customers, "lose" most of them, then argue with their customers that what should be "Normal" IT work is actually add-on project work - forcing customers to dole out even more money to keep their IT operating on pace with 10 years ago.
3. Re:From a former Perotista by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 04:37 · Score: 0
  
  We had one person who was so stressed by the whole situation that they subconsciously lit a cigarette at their desk.
  All of him?
4. Re:From a former Perotista by Jeng · 2009-09-21 04:51 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Back when I worked at Dell, the department head of logistics or something emailed out copies of this article.
  http://www.forbes.com/1999/04/21/feat2.html/
  I think back to it now and then. Dell took all that was good in the company and sold it out to MBA's and exported the rest out of the country.
  It was better when Dell didn't give a fuck who it employed as long as they did the damn job.
  
  --
  Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
Perotwhat? by Hurricane78 · 2009-09-21 03:47 · Score: 1

I really never heard of them, and their Wikipedia page and website give away nearly the most vague description physically possible. It's just one step away from "We do things. Things that make you go. (On a global vertical enterprise scale.)"
Can someone tell me what this purchase means? What are actual real products they offer?

--
Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
1. Re:Perotwhat? by rwv · 2009-09-21 04:08 · Score: 1
  
  What are actual real products they offer?
  Synergy. Also, Dell wants the customers who gave Perot $2.8 billion in 2008 to give it to Dell instead. Acquisitions are a good way of getting new customers.
2. Re:Perotwhat? by gtall · 2009-09-21 04:12 · Score: 1
  
  "Things that make you go." Errr....they are selling constipation cures? And on a vertical enterprise scale? Now that is a solutions company!!
3. Re:Perotwhat? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 04:41 · Score: 0
  
  Well, Perot bought J J Wild (Boston). J J Wild consults and helps implement the Meditch healthcare product (installed at over 2200 hospitals). J J works closely with Meditech as a technology partner so they already have a leg-up on their competitors for Meditech installation consulting/implementing.
  I would assume, then, that this gives Dell a much bigger presence in the healthcare field. Especially, now with healthcare IT getting a lot of news.
Interesting... by chipset · 2009-09-21 03:49 · Score: 3, Insightful

I have been to both Dell and Perot headquarters.
I ran into Ross (Sr.) in the lunch room. The entire HQ on Plano Parkway might as well be a history museum.
Contrast that with Dell's clinical feel.
It will be interesting.
1. Re:Interesting... by WarlockD · 2009-09-21 09:02 · Score: 1
  
  I know someone who JUST finished the meeting. It looks like both Mr Perot and Michael Dell were there.
  
  I have been to the company a few times for computer jobs and they are really amazing. Your right, Its like a living history museum over there and people speak of Perot in awe. One of the few company's, so they told me, that don't outsource overseas. This is vs EDS that every time I visit THEM, it feels like a government money waste hole with people clinging to the rafters.
  
  I will be putting in my application today:P
2. Re:Interesting... by bill_mcgonigle · 2009-09-21 11:22 · Score: 1
  
  and people speak of Perot in awe
  For the young-ins in the crowd: Ross Perot had two employees taken hostage in the 1979 Iranian Revolution. What does a good CEO do to help his employees? Most today would issue some press releases and call for their release in carefully-measured PC terms. Ross Perot hires an ex-green beret to lead a rescue team, him included, they bust their men out of jail, and when their helicopters fail, they escape from Iran overland through Turkey. Big, frikkin', brass ones.
  Then he bank-rolls NeXT, before running for President. A deficit hawk, had he beaten Clinton, our Republic wouldn't now be teetering on the edge of bankruptcy/destruction.
  
  --
  My God, it's Full of Source!
  OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
Pretty funny by ArhcAngel · 2009-09-21 03:59 · Score: 4, Insightful

H. Ross Perot starts a company (EDS), grows it into a huge business and sells it to GM in 1984. He presumably gets bored spending his billions on trivial things like yachts and mansions and uses it to start Perot Systems in 1988. HP, looking to pick up some of that IBM Global Services kind of action, purchases EDS in 2008 and to counter Dell acquires Perot Systems. Looks like Perot is nothing but an IT services arms dealer!

--
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
1. Re:Pretty funny by BlueBoxSW.com · 2009-09-21 04:06 · Score: 1
  
  Let's not forget he was the guy that attempted a Soldier of Fortune-type rescue of the Iranian hostages.
2. Re:Pretty funny by virmaior · 2009-09-21 07:58 · Score: 1
  
  The timing coincided with an expiration of a no-compete. He also tapped some of the same people he liked working with at EDS who also had their no competes expire.
3. Re:Pretty funny by ArhcAngel · 2009-09-23 09:46 · Score: 1
  
  Breaking news!
  There just "might" have been a little "insider" trading before Dell announced the purchase of Perot Systems.
  It just gets better and better.
  
  --
  "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
Who tagged this !ross? by Tetsujin · 2009-09-21 04:14 · Score: 1

Honestly, my first reaction to this story was "let's roll out some seventeen-year-old H. Ross Perot jokes!" - and I assumed the name was a coincidence which could be exploited for comedy purposes.
But you know, H. Ross Perot is rich for a reason, right? Something about being in business or something...
And sure enough, TFA says Perot Systems was founded by H. Ross Perot, and his son (H. Ross Perot Junior) is now chairman...
So how does this story not have anything to do with "ross"? :)

--
Bow-ties are cool.
1. Re:Who tagged this !ross? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 04:37 · Score: 0
  
  Because Sr. came back to work for the company a couple of years ago.
  I interviewed at the HQ out of college. The place is pretty cool.
2. Re:Who tagged this !ross? by Tetsujin · 2009-09-21 04:43 · Score: 1
  
  So how does this story not have anything to do with "ross"?
  Because Sr. came back to work for the company a couple of years ago.
  I interviewed at the HQ out of college. The place is pretty cool.
  Did you miss the "not" in that question?
  
  --
  Bow-ties are cool.
Iran... Iran so far away... by Tetsujin · 2009-09-21 04:17 · Score: 1

Let's not forget he was the guy that attempted a Soldier of Fortune-type rescue of the Iranian hostages.
Oh yeah - he sent in that "Blake" joker, right?

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Bow-ties are cool.
Please read up before commenting, by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 04:32 · Score: 2, Interesting

Let's not forget he was the guy that attempted a Soldier of Fortune-type rescue of the Iranian hostages.
Delta Force "attempted" the rescue that was unsuccessful.
Ross's was the one that was successful.
For two employees.
Will your boss do that for you?
1. Re:Please read up before commenting, by Ironica · 2009-09-21 08:05 · Score: 1
  
  My employer won't even pay for my health insurance. OTOH, rescuing employees out of a hostage situation *would* probably help keep insurance premiums down...
  
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  Don't you wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?
2. Re:Please read up before commenting, by stockard · 2009-09-21 11:35 · Score: 1
  
  The whole story of Perot's rescue was documented in a book by Ken Follett called "On Wings of Eagles".
  At one point, Perot actually flew in to Tehran pretending to be a courier for a news service so he could actually visit the two guys in jail. Pretty ballsy, and while there might be few executives who would organize a rescue attempt, he's probably the only one willing to do that for their employees.
This deal is about health care by 1sockchuck · 2009-09-21 04:42 · Score: 3, Interesting

This is all about Dell buying service revenues in health care and government, two areas that are getting s huge boost from the Obama stimulus package. In today's conference call, Perot Systems said it gets 48 percent of its revenue from the healthcare sector, and 25 percent from government. That's a strong footprint in two key growth areas, which is why Dell is paying a 65 percent premium to Friday's share price for Perot.
Really? $2.78 billion and they sell for $3.9? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 04:53 · Score: 0

What I don't understand is why a company that was making $2.78 billion dollars every year just sell out for $3.9 billion? Did they not realize they could practically make that in a year and 1.4 times that in 2 years? Seems slightly retarded to me. Also, then you let some big company like Dell walk in and layoff all of your staff. I just don't see the advantage in selling in this scenario. I guess for the owners it was cash in the pocket, minus expenses. Whereas their yearly revenue must get eaten by expenses. I suppose that begs the question, did Dell just purchase a loss leader?
Do you hear that giant sucking sound? by the+saltydog · 2009-09-21 06:06 · Score: 1

It's 3.9 billion dollars being sucked out of Dell's coffers.
Well, either that, or there's a Packers game on TV.
Perot has a big heart by h.ross.perot · 2009-09-21 06:10 · Score: 1

H. Ross SR wrote a blank check to the state of Texas to save a oak tree poisoned by not too stable individual. He did not have to do this, but he choose to quickly assist to save a symbol of trust when it would be obvious to anyone that normal bureaucracy would not act in time. See a problem, react quickly to resolve it. This oak, the Treaty Oak was regarded by the native Commanches and Tonkowas as a "Tree God". Early settlers and Indians signed treaty's under it's branches. http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/treatyoak/hist1.htm

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... I'll have a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster with a side of Plutonium Nyborg ...
Epic Fail by PingXao · 2009-09-21 07:41 · Score: 1

This will be an epic failure. Dell has no clue about customer service and support. The company culture does not allow for such a thing to flourish.
The Jewish Connection by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 14:43 · Score: 0

Michael Dell is Jew. THe Health care industry controlled by Jew. The government is controlled by Jew. This is just a plot to transfer money to his kikes partners.
was better when it was called "Spade in America" by Tetsujin · 2009-09-22 08:31 · Score: 1

1992 called. They want their SNL sketch back.
David Spade called. He wants his unfunny bit back.

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Bow-ties are cool.