Server maker Dell entered a definitive agreement to buy consultancy Perot Systems. Terms of the agreement were approved on Sunday by the boards of directors of both companies.

The acquisition is being positioned as a complementary meeting of expertise. Over the past four quarters Dell and Perot Systems had a combined $16 billion in enterprise-hardware and IT-services revenue, with about $8 billion from enhanced services and support, the companies said.

"Dell and Perot Systems share several key characteristics and our products, services and structures are overwhelmingly complementary. They have similarly strong, relationship-based business cultures...Dell's global commercial customer base spans large corporations, government agencies, health-care providers, educational institutions, and small and medium enterprises (SME). The company's large existing services business includes breakthroughs in the concept and delivery of modular services, as well as expertise in infrastructure consulting and software-as-a-service," a statement said.

Perot Systems provides services, including in applications, technology, infrastructure, business processes and consulting to the health-care, government among others. It will become Dell's services unit and be led from Plano by Peter Altabef, the current Perot Systems chief executive officer.

The position of Ross Perot Jr, son of the founder of the consultancy, remains unclear, with the statement saying that once the acquisition is complete 'Dell directors are expected to consider Ross Perot Jr., Perot Systems' chairman of the board, for appointment to the Dell board.'