SEC-Strafverfahren Stock Optionen für Manager

SEC und der Generalstaatsanwalt prüfen,ob Firmen die Stock Options zurückdatiert haben,um so den möglichst niedrigen Wert zu erwischen,dadurch steigt der Wert der Optionen.Offenbar war dies laufende Praxis ,bei 5 Firmen laufen Strafverfahren u.a. Vitesse,Caremark Rx Inc. and SafeNet Inc und UnitedHealth Group Inc.American Tower wird geprüft.Vitesse hat bereits mehrere Top Executives gefeuert,Comverse Technology's CEO und CFO sind zurückgetreten.
Die SEC hat angekündigt,auch kleinere Firmen zu überprüfen und darauf zu achten,dass Sarbanes-Oxley Act eingehlten wird.
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Apparently IBM has stated that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is investigating the first quarter earnings report from 2005 - particularly in regard to expensing stock options. There’s not necessarly an implication of a violation of law - just an investigation at this point. The issue relates to the way employee stock options are reported - and the effect it has on the earnings reports.

KLA-Tencor Corp.  (KLAC)  Chief Financial Officer Jeff Hall told an investment conference in San Francisco that federal prosecutors have requested information from the chip-equipment maker regarding the timing of past stock option grants.

Openwave Systems Inc. (OPWV) said that it received a letter of informal inquiry from the SEC regarding past stock-option grants. Juniper Networks Inc. (JNPR) said that it was contacted by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

The news helped push down KLA-Tencor shares 10%, while Openwave shares fell as much as 6%. CNet Networks Inc. (CNET) shares fell more than 7% Monday after the online-media company said that it appointed a special committee of independent directors to investigate past stock-option grants.

Comverse Technology Inc. (CMVT) and Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. (VTSS) already have fired top executives after internal probes into the so-called backdating of options.