Computer manufacturer HP has acquired VoodooPC, a leader in the design and manufacturer of high-performance personalised PCs, for an undisclosed sum it emerged this morning.
The move echoes a similar move by HP’s arch rival Dell when it acquired Alienware earlier this year.
Under the terms of the transaction HP will form a separate business unit within its Personal Systems Group that will focus exclusively on the fast growing gaming industry.
VoodooPC co-owner Rahul Sood will become chief technologist for the unit and co-owner Ravi Sood will become the unit’s director of strategy. Both will report to Phil McKinney, who will become general manager of the gaming business unit while maintaining his present role as chief technology officer of HP’s Personal Systems Group.
HP plans to maintain VoodooPC’s current distribution model and brand name along with its marketing, sales, support and development operations.
Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Calgary in Canada, VoodooPC has been dedicated to delivering leading-edge performance, style and craftsmanship to discerning PC enthusiasts. This acquisition, once closed, will extend HP’s presence into the high-performance gaming market and globally expand the reach of the VoodooPC brand.
“Our passion at VoodooPC has been to design the highest-performance, personalised PCs for our customers’ entertainment,” said Rahul Sood, founder and president, VoodooPC. “The benefits of this acquisition to VoodooPC are immense, not least of which is having a direct conduit to HP’s unparalleled innovation and international presence.”
The acquisition is expected to close by November 2006. Terms of the deal, which is subject to certain closing conditions, were not disclosed.
“HP is already a market leader in two of the three major segments in the gaming market by providing industry-leading workstation solutions for game development and powering the largest online game services,” said Todd Bradley, executive vice-president, Personal Systems Group, HP.
“Together with VoodooPC’s leadership and influence, HP will have the expertise to become the leader in the gaming customer segment,” Bradley said.
By John Kennedy
