Off-topic, but is there a reason you say 'HP have' instead of 'HP has'? I was talking to a few British guys at work about this and they thought it sounded odd as well.
If we're referring to HP as a collective of things (i.e. individuals, such as the board) then it should be have ( - they have ....)
IMO I'd say it could be either really, though I would probably favour the singular.
I'm British if it helps...