News release

Compaq Lowers Earnings Forecast and Takes Aggressive Management Actions

Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) today lowered its earnings outlook for the first quarter of FY2001 to $.12 to $.14 per share, essentially flat with the first fiscal quarter of FY2000. Revenues are estimated to be between $9.0 and $9.2 billion, roughly four percent below Q1 FY2000. Compaq also announced that it is taking a number of actions to improve its business model and a restructuring charge of $125 to $150 million to be taken in the first quarter of FY2001.

"We see continued weakness in the U. S. economy, and resultant pricing pressures. Despite the slowdown, we are pleased with market acceptance of our enterprise products driven by our ability to offer end-to-end solutions and services," said Michael Capellas, chairman and chief executive officer. "Our increasing capability to bundle services with our platform solutions, providing enhanced customer value, is generating very positive customer response. Our global execution remains strong."

The company is taking a number of management actions to ensure that it emerges in a leadership position from the current market slowdown. It will become increasingly more aggressive and use its full range of capabilities to capture an increasing share of the overall IT market.

Compaq is merging its commercial and consumer personal computer operations into a single Access Business Group to capitalize on the technical synergies between the two groups, derive greater internal operating efficiencies, simplify product offerings, and better align the company's industry-leading position in PCs and in handheld devices with the converging home/office access marketplace.

As previously announced, the company is implementing significant changes in supply chain operations designed to drastically cut order cycle time, reduce channel inventory and improve account and order management. In addition, the corporate marketing function has been consolidated.

The company plans to reduce associated employee positions by approximately 5,000 or seven percent of its workforce worldwide. These reductions will result primarily from the Access, supply chain and marketing organization changes.

Once fully implemented, the steps will result in annualized savings of $500 to $600 million.

The company will take a restructuring charge of $125 to $150 million in the first quarter. Compaq will also recognize an approximately $120 million one-time gain in this same quarter primarily driven by the sale of the company's investment in the Road Runner joint venture.

"Clearly we are operating in a challenging environment. The result of the actions we are taking today, coupled with our strong array of new products and solutions, will enable significant improvements in our business model and position us well in the mid- and long-term," Capellas stated.