The recent death of Mike Lynch, founder of Autonomy, has not deterred Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) from continuing its £3bn fraud lawsuit against his estate. Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, were among seven victims of a vessel sinking two weeks ago. Despite this tragedy, HPE remains committed to the long-standing legal battle, as confirmed by an HPE spokesman, stating, “It is HPE’s intention to follow the proceedings through to their conclusion.”
The lawsuit, which claims up to $4 billion, originates from the 2011 sale of Autonomy to Hewlett Packard for £7 billion. Mike Lynch, once hailed as “Britain’s Bill Gates,” saw his success tarnished when the deal soured less than a year later. This led HPE to sue Lynch and his former chief financial officer, Sushovan Hussain, in the High Court in 2015.
In 2022, Lynch and Hussain were found liable for fraud, with the judge describing their actions as “contrived” deals that lacked “commercial substance,” effectively inflating Autonomy’s value before the sale. Sushovan Hussain was convicted of related criminal charges in the United States in 2018 and sentenced to five years in prison. Meanwhile, Lynch was acquitted in a separate trial in June this year, an outcome perceived as a significant vindication for him. However, HPE’s civil case against Lynch persisted, with Mr Justice Hildyard expected to rule on the damages by the end of the year.
HPE has reiterated its commitment to pursuing the case against Lynch’s estate, including any possible appeals following the damages ruling. A spokesman for Lynch’s family has declined to comment on the ongoing proceedings.
HPE remains unwavering in its pursuit of a £3bn claim against Mike Lynch’s estate, undeterred by his recent passing. The legal battle, rooted in the 2011 sale of Autonomy, promises to continue as both sides await the upcoming ruling on damages.