HP: We Didn’t Sell to Syria

The Securities and Exchange Commission is asking Hewlett Packard to explain how its equipment wound up in Syria, a country that is subject to U.S. sanctions. Company officials responded in a letter released on Friday, saying they had not authorized any sales to Syria, and believe the products were delivered through either a reseller or a distributor. Area SpA, an Italian company, is believed to have installed the equipment about a year ago as part of monitoring system designed to track people within the country. Hewlett Packard told the SEC that it ended its relationship with Area SpA in April.