While quarterly net profit fell by 17 to 1

All 24.600 jobs over three years cuts announced by computer group Hewlett-Packard last September were due to the integration of EDS, as many additional 6,400 on twelve months unveiled Tuesday evening by the CEO, Mark Hurd, in an e-mail sent to employees and analysts on the results of the second quarter this time are the direct consequence of the crisis. It is in any case and Francesco Serafini, Vice President and DG Hewlett-Packard for the Emea region (Europe, Middle East and Africa), "echos" presents the new measure of reduction of 2 of the workforce in the world. "For the moment, we don't know yet the impact on Europe." This will be discussed at the European Enterprise Committee to which I am on 27 and 28 may in London. "And, on this occasion, we will present the"business plan"and explain the situation to the level of activity and will assess the measures to be taken," says. The question is whether Europe will be impacted in the same proportions as in the previous plan, where 9.330 post deleted, or 38 of the workforce, the concerned. If that were the case, 2,500 jobs are threatened in the Emea region, where HP account 100,000 employees more than 320,000 worldwide.

The unions fear the worst

"The number of deleted posts has not yet decided for Europe," said Francesco Serafini. Internally, the France which includes international activities (PCs, servers, printers, networks...), mainly in Grenoble could be "affected" to "hundreds of positions in the international industrial activities" height of a total of 5.400 persons (HP - EDS). This number will complement 580 already announced deletions but still meet after the transfer of 600 employees of HP France to EDS France ("Les Echos" from March 16). Unions fear the worst, especially as, in his e-mail, Mark Hurd is MTP (microcomputers), ESS (servers) and IPG (printers) activities. And local elected representatives may go back to the niche to defend employment with a new social plan aimed mainly white collar.

"We worked hard to preserve HP muscle and maintain the reduction in less than 2 of our workforce, much less important that could leave it presaged the decline of our turnover down", has relativized the CEO of the Group of Palo Alto. Second-quarter results reflect indeed this underperformance of revenues over a year: 19 in the PC, to 8.2 billion, 28 in computers so-called "servers" to 3.5 billion, 23 in printers, 5.9 billion, 15 in software, 880 million, 6 in financial services, 641 million. Only the turnover of services increases, 99, the acquisition of EDS. "Europe, the Middle East and Africa, has recorded this quarter decreased 11 of its revenues, to $ 10.6 billion." "But taking into account the effects of change, the decline was only 2," said Francesco Serafini, in charge of the Emea region, which generate 39 of the overall turnover of the group, which declined by 3 from February to April. While quarterly net profit fell by 17, to $ 1.7 billion. And the current third quarter is expected to be, in terms of income, between "stagnation and decline of 2 ", HP on the year (ending late October) a decline of 4 to 5.