re 68% premium.
Tbf, a 68% percent premium over the market cap doesn't seem to be excessive or uncommon. Many a takeover occurs with a bigger premium paid than that.
It may well be that the market cap was much greater than it should have been, possibly due to any alleged accounting irregularities by Autonomy, more likely due to the way Wall St./The City functions.
re the trial process, logically one would expect the court/Judge to examine the actual facts of the alleged accounting irregularities first. And if determined that any exist, to judge on whether that constitutes actual fraud. (IIRC the UK's Serious Fraud Office concluded that there wasn't sufficient evidence to obtain a prosecution. Not quite the same as no fraud at all.)
Only then should the extent of any damage to HP be considered, and if so to what degree. So far, it looks like HP's own staff_witnesses are claiming responsibility for 99% of that.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
