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                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.40

                                PLEDGE AGREEMENT

         This Pledge Agreement (the "Agreement") is made as of February 14,
1997, by and between Perot Systems Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("PSC"),
and Terry M. Ashwill ("Pledgor").

         WHEREAS, PSC has granted Pledgor the option to purchase 20,000 shares
of PSC's Class A common stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Agreement dated as
of February 14, 1997 (the "Restricted Stock Agreement");

         WHEREAS, PSC has extended credit to Pledgor and may extend additional
credit pursuant to the terms of a Promissory Note and a Bridge Note, each of
which is dated as of the date hereof and is in the amount of $37,500, for a
total of $75,000, to finance the acquisition of the Restricted Stock purchased
pursuant to the Restricted Stock Agreement (together the "Notes");

         NOW, THEREFORE, to secure the Obligations (as defined below), Pledgor
and PSC hereby agree as follows:

         1.      Definitions. Capitalized terms that are not otherwise defined
in this Agreement have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Restricted
Stock Agreement or the Notes, as appropriate.

         2.      Pledge of Securities. Pledgor hereby pledges and grants to PSC
a security interest in the following:

                 (a)      the Restricted Stock purchased by Pledgor pursuant to
         the Restricted Stock Agreement, together with any other shares of
         capital stock of PSC that may be distributed with respect to such
         Restricted Stock (collectively, the "Securities"), and all rights and
         privileges pertaining thereto;

                 (b)      all proceeds, products, cash, securities, dividends,
         increases, distributions and profits received from or on the
         Securities (the "Proceeds"), including without limitation
         distributions or payments in partial or complete liquidation or
         redemption, or as a result of reclassifications, readjustments,
         reorganizations or changes in the capital structure of the issuer of
         the Securities; and

                 (c)      all subscriptions, warrants, options, preemptive
         rights and other rights issued or otherwise granted by the issuer of
         the Securities or any other person on or in connection with the
         Securities or any other item of the Collateral (as defined below);

         (all of such property and rights described in items (a), (b) and (c)
         above are herein collectively called the "Collateral");





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TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Collateral, together with all rights, titles,
interests, privileges and preferences appertaining to or incidental thereto,
unto PSC, and its respective successors and assigns, forever, subject, however,
to the terms, covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth. The security
interest granted and the assignments made hereunder are made as security only
and shall not subject PSC to, or transfer or in any way affect or modify, any
obligation of Pledgor with respect to any of the Collateral or any transaction
involving or giving rise thereto.

         3.      Obligations Secured. The pledge and security interest in the
Collateral granted hereby secures payment and performance of the following
obligations of Pledgor to PSC, whether now outstanding or incurred after the
date hereof (the "Obligations"): (a) all principal, interest, fees, expenses,
obligations and liabilities of Pledgor arising pursuant to or represented by
the Notes; (b) all taxes, assessments, insurance premiums, brokerage fees,
reasonable attorneys' fees and other expenses of sale of the Collateral; (c)
Pledgor's performance of his obligations under the Notes, this Agreement and
the Restricted Stock Agreement; and (d) all renewals, extensions and
modifications of the indebtedness and obligations referred to in the foregoing
clauses, or any part thereof.

         4.      Pledgor's Warranties and Indemnity. Pledgor represents,
warrants and covenants to PSC (a) that Pledgor is and will be the lawful owner
of the Securities, (b) that the Securities are and will remain free and clear
of all liens, encumbrances and security interests other than the security
interest granted by Pledgor hereunder, and (c) that Pledgor has the right and
authority to pledge the Securities and otherwise to comply with the provisions
hereof. If any adverse claim is asserted in respect of the Securities or any
portion thereof, except such as may result from an act of PSC not authorized
hereunder, Pledgor shall indemnify PSC and hold PSC harmless from and against
any losses, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees)
incurred by PSC in exercising any right, power or remedy of PSC hereunder or
defending, protecting or enforcing the security interests created hereunder.
Any such loss, liability or expense so incurred shall be paid by Pledgor upon
demand, and shall become part of the Obligations of Pledgor secured pursuant to
this Agreement. Pledgor agrees to execute a stock power in blank for each
certificate evidencing any of the Securities and to deliver all such Securities
certificates with stock powers to PSC. PSC hereby consents to the pledge of the
Securities to PSC hereunder, notwithstanding any restrictions on transfer of
the Securities set forth in the Restricted Stock Agreement.

         5.      Negative Covenants. Pledgor covenants and agrees that, unless
PSC otherwise consents in writing Pledgor will not: (a) sell, assign or
transfer any rights of Pledgor in the Collateral; or (b) create any lien in, or
security interest in, or otherwise encumber, the Collateral, or any part
thereof, or permit the same to be or become subject to any lien, attachment,
execution, sequestration, other legal or equitable process, or any encumbrance
of any kind or character, except the security interest herein created in favor
of PSC.

         6.      Dividends and Other Distributions.

                 (a) Pledgor shall cause all non-cash dividends and
         distributions with respect to the Securities (including without
         limitation any stock dividends and any distributions made on or in
         respect of the Securities, whether resulting from a subdivision,





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         combination or reclassification of the Securities or received in
         exchange for or in respect of the Securities or any part thereof or as
         a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other
         transaction) to be distributed directly to PSC, to be held by PSC as
         additional Collateral; and if any such distribution is made to
         Pledgor, he shall receive such distribution in trust for PSC and shall
         immediately transfer it to PSC.

                 (b)      So long as no Event of Default or Potential Default
         has occurred and is continuing, Pledgor shall be entitled to receive
         any cash dividends payable in respect of the Securities; provided
         that, upon receipt of any such cash dividend, Pledgor will promptly
         (and in any event within 30 days) pay to PSC in respect of the
         Obligations (to the extent of the Obligations then outstanding) the
         full amount of such cash dividend less any income taxes payable by
         Pledgor as a result of such cash dividend, and, pending such payment,
         such cash dividend will continue to constitute Collateral hereunder.

         7.      Voting Rights. So long as no Event of Default or Potential
Default has occurred and is continuing, Pledgor shall be entitled to exercise
any and all voting rights pertaining to the Securities for any purpose not
inconsistent with the terms of the Notes or this Agreement.

         8.      Termination of Rights. During any period when an Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, all rights of Pledgor to receive
dividends pursuant to Section 6(b) or to exercise voting rights pursuant to
Section 7 shall cease and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in PSC,
which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to dispose of the
Securities and to receive dividends and exercise voting rights in respect of
the Securities.  Further, PSC shall have the right, during the continuance of
any Event of Default, to notify and direct the issuer of the Securities to make
all payments, distributions, dividends and any other distributions payable in
respect thereof directly to PSC. The issuer of the Securities making any
payment or distribution to PSC hereunder shall be fully protected in relying on
the written statement of PSC that it then holds a security interest that
entitles PSC to receive such payments and distributions. Any and all money and
other property paid over to or received by PSC pursuant to the provisions of
this Section 8 shall be retained by PSC as additional collateral hereunder and
may be applied in accordance with the provisions hereof.

         9.      Rights and Remedies of PSC Upon and After Default.

                 (a)      Remedies. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default,
         and in addition to any and all other rights and remedies which PSC may
         then have under this Agreement, the Restricted Stock Agreement, the
         laws of the United States or the Uniform Commercial Code, as then in
         effect in Texas (the "Code"), or otherwise, PSC may: (i) declare the
         entire unpaid balance of principal of and all accrued interest on the
         Obligations immediately due and payable, without notice (including
         notice of intention to accelerate and notice of acceleration) except
         as required under the Notes, demand or presentment, which are hereby
         waived; (ii) reduce its claim to judgment, foreclose or otherwise
         enforce its security interest in all or any part of the Obligations by
         any available judicial procedure; (iii) after notification, if any,
         expressly provided for herein, sell or otherwise dispose of, at the
         office of PSC, or elsewhere as chosen by PSC, all or





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         any part of the Collateral, and any such sale or other disposition may
         be as a unit or in parcels, by public or private proceedings, and by
         way of one or more contracts, (it being agreed that the sale of any
         part of the Collateral shall not exhaust the power of sale granted
         hereunder, but sales may be made from time to time until all of the
         Collateral has been sold or until the Obligations have been paid in
         full), and at any such sale it shall not be necessary to exhibit the
         Collateral; (iv) at PSC's discretion, retain the Collateral in
         satisfaction of the Obligations whenever the circumstances are such
         that PSC is entitled to do so under the Code; (v) apply by appropriate
         judicial proceedings for appointment of a receiver for the Collateral,
         or any part thereof, and Pledgor hereby consents to any such
         appointment; (vi) purchase the Collateral at any public sale; (vii)
         purchase the Collateral at any private sale if permitted by the Code;
         and/or (viii) exercise the rights set forth in Section 10 hereof.

                 (b)      Sale of Securities. Pledgor recognizes that PSC may
         be unable to effect a public sale of any or all of the Securities by
         reason of certain prohibitions contained in the federal securities
         laws and applicable state or foreign securities laws, and thus may
         resort to one or more private sales thereof to a restricted group of
         purchasers who will be obliged to agree, among other things, to
         acquire such securities for their own account for investment and not
         with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Pledgor
         acknowledges and agrees that any such private sale may result in
         prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale
         were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees
         that any such private sale shall be deemed to have been made in a
         commercially reasonable manner. PSC shall be under no obligation to
         delay a sale of any of the Securities for the period of time necessary
         to permit the issuer of such securities to register such securities
         for public sale under the federal securities laws, or under applicable
         state securities laws, even if such issuer would agree to do so. Upon
         the consummation of any private or public sale, PSC shall have the
         right to deliver, assign, and transfer to the purchaser thereof the
         Securities so sold. Each purchaser at any such sale shall hold the
         property sold absolutely free from any claim or right of whatsoever
         kind, and Pledgor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all
         rights of redemption, stay and/or appraisal which it has or may at any
         time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing
         or hereafter enacted. PSC shall give Pledgor notice of PSC's intention
         to make any such public or private sale at broker's board or on a
         securities exchange to the extent required hereunder or by the Code.
         Such notice, in case of sale at broker's board or on a securities
         exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to
         be made and the day on which the Securities, or that portion thereof
         so being sold, will first be offered for sale at such board or
         exchange. At any such sale the Securities may be sold in one lot as an
         entirety or in separate parcels, as PSC may determine. PSC shall not
         be obligated to make any such sale pursuant to any such notice if PSC
         shall determine not to do so, regardless of the fact that notice of
         sale of the Securities may have been given. PSC may without notice or
         publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to
         be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place
         fixed for the sale, and such sale may be made at any time or place to
         which the same may be so adjourned. In case of any sale of all or any
         part of the Securities on credit or for future delivery, the
         Securities so sold may be





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         retained by PSC until the selling price is paid by the purchaser
         thereof, but PSC shall not incur any liability in case of the failure
         of such purchaser to take up and pay for the Securities so sold and,
         in case of any such failure, such Securities may again be sold upon
         like notice. PSC may also, at its discretion, proceed by a suit or
         suits at law, or in equity to foreclose its security interest and sell
         the Securities, or any portion thereof, under a judgment or decree of
         a court or courts of competent jurisdiction. If any consent, approval
         or authorization of any state, municipal or other governmental
         department, agency or authority should be necessary to effectuate any
         sale or other disposition of the Securities or any part thereof,
         Pledgor shall execute all such applications and other instruments as
         may be required in connection with securing any such consent, approval
         or authorization, and will otherwise use Pledgor's best efforts to
         secure the same.

                 (c)      Notification. Reasonable notification of the time and
         place of any public sale of the Collateral, or reasonable notification
         of the time after which any private sale or other intended disposition
         of the Collateral is to be made, shall be sent to Pledgor and to any
         other person entitled under the Code to notice; provided, that if the
         Collateral threatens to decline quickly in value, or if otherwise
         permitted by the Code, PSC may (but shall not be obligated to) sell or
         otherwise dispose of the Collateral without notification,
         advertisement or other notice of any kind. It is agreed that notice
         sent or given not less than ten calendar days prior to the taking of
         the action to which the notice relates is reasonable notification and
         notice for the purposes of this section.

                 (d)      Application of Proceeds. Upon the maturity of the
         Obligations or any part thereof, whether such maturity be by such
         terms of such instruments or through the exercise of any power of
         acceleration, PSC is authorized and empowered to apply any and all
         funds realized from the sale of the Collateral not previously credited
         against the Obligations first toward the payment of the costs, charges
         and expenses, if any, incurred in connection with the collection of
         such funds hereunder, and then toward the payment of the Obligations
         in such order as PSC, in its sole discretion, shall deem appropriate,
         and shall pay the balance remaining (if any) to Pledgor as prescribed
         by the Code or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

         10.     Attorney-in-Fact. Pledgor hereby appoints PSC as the
attorney-in-fact for Pledgor for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of
this Agreement and taking any action and executing any instrument which PSC may
deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which
appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.  Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, PSC shall have the right and power to receive,
endorse and collect all checks and other orders for the payment of money made
payable to Pledgor and included within the Collateral and to give full
discharge for the same. Neither PSC nor any director or officer of the issuer
of the Securities shall have any liability for the distribution to and
collection of the Proceeds by PSC, but shall be fully protected in relying on
the written statement of PSC as to its authorization pursuant to this
paragraph. Any and all amounts collected by PSC pursuant hereto shall be
applied against the Obligations in the manner that PSC shall determine, in
PSC's sole and absolute discretion.





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         11.     Certain Other Rights of PSC.

                 (a)      Duty of Care. PSC's only duty with respect to the
         Collateral shall be to exercise reasonable care to secure the safe
         custody thereof. PSC shall not have a duty to fix or preserve rights
         against prior parties to the Collateral, and shall never be liable for
         its failure to use diligence to collect any amount payable with
         respect to the Collateral, but shall be liable only to the account of
         Pledgor for what PSC may actually collect or receive thereon.

                 (b)      Financing Statement. PSC shall have the right at any
         time to execute and file this Agreement or a copy of this Agreement as
         a financing statement, but the failure of PSC to do so shall not
         impair the validity or enforceability of this Agreement.

                 (c)      Payment of Expenses. At PSC's option, PSC may
         discharge taxes, liens and interest, perform or cause to be performed,
         for and on behalf of Pledgor, any actions and conditions, obligations
         or covenants which Pledgor has failed or refused to perform and may
         pay for the repair, maintenance or preservation of any of the
         Collateral, and all sums so expended, including, but not limited to,
         attorneys' fees, court costs, agents' fee or commissions, or any other
         costs or expenses, shall bear interest from the date of payment at the
         highest legal rate and shall be deemed to constitute part of the
         Obligations secured by this Agreement.

         12.     Cumulative Rights and Remedies. All rights and remedies of PSC
hereunder are cumulative of each other and of every other right or remedy which
PSC may otherwise have at law or in equity or under any other contract or other
writing for the enforcement of the security interest herein or the collection
of the Obligations, and the exercise by PSC of one or more rights or remedies
shall not prejudice or impair the concurrent or subsequent exercise of other
rights or remedies. Should Pledgor have heretofore executed or hereafter
executed any other security agreement in favor of PSC in which a security
interest is created as security for the debts of another or others, in respect
of which Pledgor may not be personally liable, the security interest therein
created and all other rights, powers and privileges vested in PSC by the terms
thereof shall exist concurrently with the security interest created herein,
and, in addition, all property in which PSC holds a security interest under any
such other security agreement shall also be part of the Collateral hereunder,
and all or any part of the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of such
property may, in the discretion of PSC, be applied by PSC in accordance with
the terms hereof, and of such other security agreement, or agreements, or any
of them.

         13.     Termination. Upon payment in full by Pledgor of all
Obligations in accordance with their terms, this Agreement shall terminate and
PSC shall return to Pledgor all certificates evidencing the Securities (and
any related stock powers) then held under this Agreement.

         14.     Repurchase Option. If PSC exercises its right to cancel or
repurchase any of the Securities under the Restricted Stock Agreement, PSC
shall be entitled to release such Securities from the pledge under this
Agreement and cancel or repurchase such Securities in accordance with the terms
of the Restricted Stock Agreement.





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         15.     Further Assurances. Pledgor agrees to execute and deliver such
further instruments and take such further actions as PSC may reasonably request
from time to time to preserve or give effect to its rights under this
Agreement.

         16.     Action by PSC. Any election, consent, waiver or other action
that may be taken by PSC hereunder will be taken by the Chairman of the Board,
unless Pledgor is then serving in such capacity, in which case such action will
be taken by the Board.

         17.     Notices. Any notice to PSC that is required or permitted by
this Agreement must be addressed to PSC at its principal office to the
attention of the President, with a copy to the General Counsel. Any notice to
Pledgor that is required or permitted by this Agreement must be addressed to
Pledgor at the most recent address for Pledgor reflected in the appropriate
records of PSC. Either party may at any time change its address for
notification purposes by giving the other prior written notice of the new
address and the date upon which it will become effective. Whenever this
Agreement requires or permits any notice from one party to another, the notice
must be in writing and must be sent by courier, overnight delivery service,
facsimile or certified mail, return receipt requested, and such notice will be
deemed to be given (a) if sent by courier, on the date actually delivered, (b)
if sent by overnight delivery service, one day after being sent, (c) if sent by
telecopy, on the date that confirmation of transmission is received by the
sender, or (d) if sent by certified mail, on the third business day after being
mailed.

         18.     Enforcement. This Agreement will be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to the choice
of law rules thereof. PSC will be entitled, in addition to any other remedies
it may have at law or in equity, to temporary and permanent injunctive and
other equitable relief to enforce the provisions of this Agreement. Any action
to enforce the provisions of, or otherwise relating to, this Agreement may be
brought in the appropriate courts in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, and Pledgor
hereby consents to the personal jurisdiction of such courts in any such action;
provided that, at the request of PSC or Pledgor, any claim or dispute arising
out of or relating to this Agreement or Pledgor's employment by PSC or the
termination of such employment, including any federal or state statutory
claims, will be resolved without resort to the courts solely through mediation
and, if mediation is not successful, through binding arbitration pursuant to
the rules of the American Arbitration Association. Neither party will be liable
to the other for punitive damages for any such claim or dispute. If any action
at law or in equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this
Agreement, the prevailing party will be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees,
costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which that
party may be entitled; provided that, if Pledgor becomes liable for any such
fees, costs or other disbursements, such amounts will become Obligations under
the applicable Note secured by this Agreement.

         19.     Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the other documents and
instruments specifically referenced herein constitute the entire agreement
between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof, and except as expressly set forth herein or therein, there are no
agreements or representations, written or oral, express or implied, with
respect to such subject matter. No provision of this Agreement may be modified,
waived or





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discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in
writing signed by Pledgor and PSC. No waiver by either party hereto of any
condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other party
will be deemed a waiver of any other provisions or conditions at the same or at
any prior or subsequent time.

         20.     Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be
invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the validity and enforceability of all
other provisions of this Agreement will not be affected thereby.

         21.     Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
multiple counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts, all of
which when taken together will constitute one and the same agreement.

         22.     Assignment. Pledgor may not assign this Agreement or any
rights or obligations hereunder.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound, Pledgor and a
duly-authorized representative of PSC have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.

                                                   /s/ TERRY M. ASHWILL
                                                   -------------------------
                                                   Terry M. Ashwill, Pledgor



                                                   PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION

                                                   By:/s/ MORTON MEYERSON
                                                      ----------------------
                                                   Name:  Morton Meyerson
                                                   Title: Chairman of the Board





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