Computer merger vote may be too close to call

Monday, March 18, 2002 | 9:31 a.m.

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Hewlett-Packard Co.'s plan to buy Compaq Computer Corp. for $21 billion is to be decided Tuesday, the deadline for HP shareholders to vote on the controversial deal.

The outcome may be too close to immediately call.

While Compaq shareholders are expected to approve the deal Wednesday, HP results might not be known for weeks because independent proxy counters will painstakingly verify each vote. Both sides say early tallies of proxies already mailed in show the vote going their way.

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