HP finally retain its PC division

After months of uncertainty, the new boss has finally decided: HP will retain its good Personal Systems Group, too well established in the group's activities to make it viable to make a separate structure.

During August, HP had surprised markets by announcing the end of its mobile division and the possible sale of the branch in charge of the business PC brand, called Personal Systems Group (PSG). The latter option, since the beginning of the study, was ultimately not used.

Meg Whithman, new boss of the group, confirmed Thursday night in a statement: "HP has objectively evaluated the impact strategic, financial and operational separation from the branch of PSG. Clearly, after analysis, that keep within HP is the right decision for customers and partners, shareholders and employees (the group), "said she.

So far, the track seemed to be favored by the leadership of HP was a business PC division from the rest of the group (spin-off) rather than an outright assignment. it was finally determined that the operation would prove harmful, especially financially. The cost of the split have been estimated at $ 1.5 billion in-house, while the synergies permitted by the proximity of the PC business with other segments such as servers or printing to represent a billion per year.

In addition to these operational benefits, HP would lose in case of separation benefits in terms of image that represents the position of world leader in the PC market ... let alone a business volume estimated by the manufacturer at 40.7 billion dollars in fiscal year 2010.

This new turn of events is a new disclaimer for Leo Apotheker, recently landed the benefit of Meg Whithman (eg eBay), who wanted to re-position HP as a leader in the services market by taking a line on the historical activity. No reference has yet been made as to a possible return in the market for touch pads, or the future of WebOS.