Hewlett-Packard May Acquire Consulting Unit

Hewlett-Packard Co., the world’s No. 2 computer maker, is in talks to buy PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s consulting business for as much as $18 billion in cash and stock to provide customers advice on its information systems, a person familiar with the situation said.

The purchase price could reach $20 billion, a second source said. The higher price was reported earlier by the Sunday Times of London. The Financial Times’ online edition said the unit could fetch from $15 billion to $20 billion.

Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive Carly Fiorina is seeking to add more consulting services to offer to potential buyers of its computer systems. Rivals such as IBM already offer these services.

Pricewaterhouse has said that it plans to separate its auditing and consulting divisions, as the Securities and Exchange Commission increases pressure on accounting firms to split those businesses to avoid conflicts of interest. A Pricewaterhouse spokesman declined to comment.