HP's Autonomy Mishap: From High Expectations To High Anxiety

Downward Spiral

From the outset, HP characterized its $11.1 billion blockbuster acquisition of U.K. software maker Autonomy as a cloud computing game-changer aimed at driving higher investor returns with a unique software asset. Only 15 months later, HP claimed it was hoodwinked by Autonomy, taking an $8.8 billion charge against earnings after discovering what HP alleges were "serious accounting improprieties."

Here then is a look at the long, strange HP-Autonomy trip from bold action to public embarrassment.

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