Hitachi Ltd has struck a deal with Electronic Data Systems Corp by which Hitachi will assume full ownership of the Hitachi Data Systems Corp joint venture. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Santa Clara, California-based HDS – which was formed by the two companies in 1989 to sell and service Hitachi’s mainframe and storage product lines and acquired National Advanced Systems Inc from National Semiconductor Corp that same year – will become wholly-owned by Hitachi some time before April 21. Hitachi says the decision was made in response to the evolving nature of the information systems marketplace and a desire for the ability to act autonomously to strengthen and broaden the resources and product mix of HDS in North America. The two companies say they will continue to business in other areas. In connection with the transfer, Gary Moore, senior vice president of EDS (and first president and CEO of HDS) and Jeff Heller, EDS president and COO, will both resign their posts on the HDS board. HDS currently employs 2,300 people and operates in 30 countries worldwide.
