The Regents - University of California | Office of The President
The Regents - University of California | Office of The President
The Regents - University of California | Office of The President
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shareholders. As a result <strong>of</strong> the scheme to defraud during the years from at least<br />
1994 through 2002, WorldCom’s financial statements were false.<br />
98. Additionally, WorldCom’s sales people engaged in unethical<br />
practices from at least 1994 until 2002 that caused the financial statements to be<br />
misstated. For example, WorldCom’s sales force routinely double-booked sales to<br />
boost earnings. See Mississippi Business Journal. April 1, 2002. <strong>The</strong> SEC is<br />
looking into all documentation regarding customer accounts, accounts receivables,<br />
billing and contract disputes, employee commissions and, sales and marketing.<br />
One customer, who claimed he was over-billed, complained to Andersen about his<br />
over-billing problems. See Miami Herald, March 21, 2002.<br />
99. WorldCom also engaged in improper barter transactions which<br />
allowed it to improperly recognize revenue. For example, in February <strong>of</strong> 1999,<br />
WorldCom and Electronic Data Systems entered into a transaction where each<br />
company agreed to purchase goods or services from one another at inflated prices.<br />
Electronic Data Service agreed to purchase $8.5 billion <strong>of</strong> communications<br />
services from WorldCom over 10 years and to purchase a WorldCom unit for $1.6<br />
billion. WorldCom agreed to hire Electronic Data Service to oversee its billing<br />
and other services for about $7 billion over the same 10-year period. WorldCom<br />
improperly recognized all the revenue from the transaction in one year in violation<br />
<strong>of</strong> accounting standards thereby inflating its revenues on its financial statements.<br />
WorldCom entered into other improper barter transactions from 1994 through<br />
2002 which allowed it to show higher revenues on its financial statements.<br />
100. In about 1999, WorldCom could not generate sufficient revenues to<br />
meet analysts’ expectations from mergers. Defendants knew that if WorldCom did<br />
not meet analysts’ expectations, WorldCom’s stock price and market value would<br />
decline. <strong>The</strong> Defendants knew that if WorldCom’s value declined, they would<br />
lose their lucrative fees and, Citigroup would not be repaid its loans.<br />
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COMPLAINT