HP/Autonomy

Computer maker Hewlett Packard has asked US and UK authorities to investigate alleged misrepresentations before its takeover of UK software group Autonomy last year.

This led to a $5bn (£3.1bn) charge in its latest quarterly accounts.

HP said it was "extremely disappointed" that Autonomy had appeared to have "inflated" the value of the company prior to the takeover.

"These efforts appear to have been a wilful effort to mislead," HP said.

The total one-off charge recorded in HP's accounts for the three months to the end of October was $8.8bn, pushing the company to a $6.85bn net loss.