HP is buying the Atos Origin Middle East Group (AOME), to pump up its consulting business in the Arab world. Terms are undisclosed. AOME dubs itself (http://www.atosorigin-me.com/Home.aspx) the "leading Business Consulting and Systems Integration Partner in the region", covering 16 countries in five countries. The business is headquartered in Bahrain and has offices in Saudi, UAE, Qatar and Libya. As you might expect, AOME focuses particularly on the oil and gas and public sectors. It is also a big SAP house.

AOME management broke free from the French computer services giant Atos Origin, in an MBO last year (http://www.atosorigin.com/en-us/Newsroom/en-us/Press_Releases/2006/2006_02_10_01.htm).

HP release here (http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2007/071022a.html). ®