Justice Department Opens Inquiry Into HP Unit

Hewlett-Packard says the Justice Department is investigating HP's business software unit Autonomy, which the computer maker has accused of fudging its accounting. HP revealed the investigation in an SEC filing yesterday. The technology company also said it provided information to the UK Serious Fraud Office and the SEC about accounting improprieties, disclosure failures, and misrepresentations at Autonomy that occurred before and in connection with its acquisition of the company. Autonomy founder Mike Lynch has denied those claims. (More Hewlett Packard stories.)