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Rotten Fraudsters
WorldCom: Overview
Capital Expenditures result in the acquisition of, or improvement to, the companys
assets. Examples are purchases of real estate, manufacturing equipment, and
computer equipment.
Are NOT counted against revenues on income statement. Instead, they are booked as
capital assets on the balance sheet.
WorldCom has set reserves to pay anticipated bills, reflecting estimates of (unpaid) costs associated with
the used of lines and other facilities of outside vendors
In the third quarter of 2000, WorldCom starts to manipulate true line cost expenses by releasing reserves
(reduced 3Q line costs by $828 million, and 4Q line costs by $407 million).
First , in some cases accruals were released without any apparent analysis of whether the Company actually had an
excess accrual in the account. Thus, reported line costs were reduced (and pre-tax income increased) without any
proper basis.
Second , even when WorldCom had excess accruals, the Company often did not release them in the period in which
they were identified. Instead, certain line cost accruals were kept as rainy day funds and released to improve reported
results when managers felt this was needed.
Third , WorldCom reduced reported line costs by releasing accruals that had been established for other purposes. This
reduction of line costs was inappropriate because such accruals, to the extent determined to be in excess of
requirements, should have been released against the relevant expense when such excess arose, not recharacterized as
a reduction of line costs.
In 1999 and 2000, WorldCom reduced its reported line costs by approximately $3.3 billion through this
fraud.
Sources:
WorldComs 6/9/03 8K report to the SEC and Report of Investigation by the Special Investigative Committee of
the Board of Directors of WorldCom, Inc., March 31, 2003
In April 2001, WorldCom starts making false general ledger entries which
transfer a significant portion of line cost expenses to a variety of capital asset
accounts. Violates GAAP.
In 2001 and 2002, WorldCom improperly capitalized $3.5 billion of line costs.
Sources:
WorldComs 6/9/03 8K report to the SEC and Report of Investigation by the Special Investigative Committee of the
Board of Directors of WorldCom, Inc., March 31, 2003
Reported Line
Cost Expenses
Reported Income
(before Taxes
and Minority
Interests)
10-Q, 3rd Q. 2000
$3.867 billion
$1.736 billion
10-K, 2000
$15.462 billion
$7.568 billion
10-Q, 1st Q. 2001
$4.108 billion
$988 million
10-Q, 2nd Q. 2001
$3.73 billion
$159 million
10-Q, 3rd Q. 2001
$3.745 billion
$845 million
10-K, 2001
$14.739 billion
$2.393 billion
10-Q, 1st Q. 2002
$3.479 billion
$240 million
Source: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION v. WORLDCOM, INC.,
Actual Line
Cost Expenses
$4.695 billion
$16.70 billion
$4.879 billion
$4.290 billion
$4.488 billion
$17.754 billion
$4.297 billion
Civ No. 02-CV-4963 (JSR)
Actual Income
(before Taxes
and Minority
Interests)
$908 million
$6.33 billion
$217 million
-$401 million
$102 million
-$622 million
-$578 million
4th Qtr
2001
1st Qtr
2002
Reported income
Actual income
On June 12, 2002, the Internal Audit team contacted Max Bobbitt, the Chairman
of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
Article was from the May 16 edition of Fort Worth Weekly Online and was based upon
interviews with a former WorldCom employee who was allegedly fired for whistle
blowing.
WorldComs Internal Audit Department began an investigation concerning the
capitalization of line costs.
On June 25, 2002, the Board determined that WorldCom would restate its
financial statements for 2001 and the first quarter of 2002.
Effect of Fraud
WorldCom was dominated by Messrs. Ebbers (CEO) and Sullivan (CFO) with
virtually no checks or restraints placed on their actions by the Board of Directors or
other Management.
WorldCom Management provided the Companys Directors with extremely limited
information regarding many acquisition transactions. Several multi-billion dollar
acquisitions were approved by the Board of Directors following discussions that
lasted for 30 minutes or less and without the Directors receiving a single piece of
paper regarding the terms or implications of the transactions (e.g. Intermedia -$6B
acquisition, 60 90 min due diligence, 35 min telephone Board meeting)
No evidence of meaningful debt planning. The ability to borrow was facilitated by
massive accounting fraud. In 4 years issued more than $25 billion in debt securities at
complete discretion of Ebbers and Sullivan. Board rubber-stamped Pricing
Committee decisions.
The Compensation and Stock Option Committee approved Company loans of more
than $400million to Mr. Ebbers without initially informing the full Board or taking
appropriate steps to protect the Company (no due diligence of collateral, use of
proceeds).
The Board never questioned non-WorldCom business activities of CEO and
effectively funded those with the company money.
Audit committee had little power, was under funded and understaffed; concentrated
only on operational audit. Also improper oversight by external audit Arthur
Andersen.
Screwed up compensation structure. Decisions single-handedly taken by CEO.
Most Board members also had stock-based compensation.
Board members had poor oversight on corporate strategy. Very little meaningful or
coherent strategic planning at WorldCom. Absence of proper corporate governance
protocols.The Companys approach to acquisitions and significant outsourcing
transactions was ad hoc and opportunistic.
Loyalty of Board was ensured by members whose companies had been acquired by
WorldCom (6 out of 10) and whose personal fortunes through ownership of the
Companys stock had, for a long period of time, been greatly enhanced during
Ebbers leadership of WorldCom.
WorldCom was a company that grew tremendously in both size and complexity in
a relatively short period of time. Its management, systems, internal controls and
other personnel did not keep pace with that growth. WorldCom grew in large part
because the value of its stock rose dramatically.
Source: FIRST AND SECOND INTERIM REPORTS OF DICK THORNBURGH, BANKRUPTCY COURT
EXAMINER, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, 2002 2003.
On April 30, 2002, the Company announced that Mr. Ebbers had resigned as
President, CEO and Director.
KPMG became the Companys independent auditor and accountants effective
May 14, 2002, replacing Arthur Andersen.
In May 2002, the Companys Internal Audit Department began an investigation
concerning the capitalization of line costs.
The Board has terminated jobs of CFO Sullivan and Chief Controller Myers.
Appointed 3 independent directors professionals in financial fraud
investigations.
Corporate
Governance
Improve Management
Integrity and ethics
Correct incentive scheme
Culture