Salomon Smith Barney will be using the experience gleaned from its role in the General Electric-Honeywell merger to advise Compaq Computer Corporation on its potential merger with Hewlett-Packard.

Compaq, the US computer manufacturer, has hired SSB, the US investment banking arm of Citigroup, for advice on an agreed $25bn (€28bn) takeover by Hewlett Packard, its larger US competitor. Although it is an all-US deal, it will need to obtain European Commission antitrust approval.