Late Tech Tycoon Mike Lynch’s Estate Hit With $940M Fraud Ruling in HP Autonomy Scandal

A UK High Court has ruled that the estate of the late British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his former business partner must pay over £700 million (about $940 million) to Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). The judgment follows HPE’s long-running fraud case over its 2011 acquisition of Lynch’s software company, Autonomy, which resulted in massive financial losses for HP.

Lynch, who died in a yacht accident last year, was accused of inflating Autonomy’s value before the sale. The court’s decision effectively bankrupts Lynch’s estate and underscores the high stakes and risks involved in major tech acquisitions.

Representatives for Lynch’s estate have indicated they may appeal the ruling.