Corporate Credit Rating: AA-/Negative/A-1+ Hewlett-Packard Co. announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Comdisco Inc. to acquire substantially all of Comdisco's Technology Services business for $610 million in cash. The moderate-size acquisition is consistent with HP's strategic focus on building its global services capabilities, and is not expected to have an impact on HP's ratings. The current rating level incorporates the expectation that HP will maintain its strong financial profile and that profitability levels will improve in fiscal 2002.