Hewlett-Packard Company and Bluestone Software, Inc. announced the companies have reached a definitive agreement under which HP will acquire Bluestone in a stock-for-stock strategic transaction. Bluestone’s software will become the integrating platform for HP’s current software offerings and will serve as the core of HP’s next-generation software strategy by leveraging the combined platform’s advanced XML, e-services and mobile technology capabilities. Bluestone’s standards-based J2EE and XML application server technology, along with their Java transaction service, will form the core of HP’s middleware offering. With this solution, customers will be able to develop, integrate, deploy, and manage J2EE and XML applications and services across the enterprise, across trading community partners, and across interactions and transactions with customers using mobile appliances and devices. HP Consulting will develop a set of implementation and integration services in support of Bluestone’s technologies. Under the terms of the agreement, Bluestone shareowners will receive 0.2433 pre-split shares of HP common stock for each share of Bluestone common stock. The completion of the transaction is subject to closing conditions and the approval of Bluestone shareowners. Upon completion of the transaction, Bluestone will become a wholly owned subsidiary of HP. www.bluestone.com, www.hp.com