Year end scramble for fictitious profits - Essay Example

Year-end scramble for fictitious profits Enron emerged as the globe’s energy booster, though; according to its executives, it started humble beginnings. The year 1997 was a memorable period in which they unveiled the corporation’s logo (Eichenwald 236). Its executives and the staff gathered to witness its birth, which meant to offer the firm heightened recognition globally and maintain its competitive edge as an energy company among its counterparts. However, the logo’s plan did not yield effectively to its intentions, since it failed practically in its transmission (Eichenwald 237).

The urge to be the leading corporation in the field and maintain that position as well as offer handsome returns prompted the executives to apply diverse strategies. These encompassed obtaining advices from diverse and excellent accountants whom Enron deemed were proficient in investment. Unfortunately, the executives were too cunning and obsessed with making “fictitious” profits via dubious means, where sometimes they would manipulate accounting figures to fit their ambitions. Additionally, they entailed taking or borrowing subsidy from diverse sources and twist them to appear as though they were investments. 26Th Aug. 1997, Michael Kooper sent $481,850 to Andrew and Lea Fastow, which its settlement took 3 months after obtaining aid from investors in RADR plus $3, 000 profits (Eichenwald 261).

This was initial cash stream where the Enron also anticipated for more in the future. Enron invested in CHEWCO, where the inside investors would only post little cash to attain control of a quarter billion dollars in JADI assets, and enrich themselves with no risk. Reconciliation of “Half-Billion Dollars” International J-Block deal = $450 M MTBE = $74 M Left amount = $105 M Enron’s included profit = $51M (comprising EES’ 7%) Without EES’ 7% profit = $49 M Hence, implying EES’ 7% = ($51-$49) M = $2 M Enron’s Reported total = $61M Total earning is for 1997 = ($51-$61) = $10M Less EES’ 7% = ($10-$2) = $8 M The statistics encompassed numerous illogical accounting plus manipulating of figures to suit the executives’ interests.

Since, they were the key people who contributed immensely in making poor decisions via queer methods of funding; meant for investments. Enron, in 1999, did not have a smooth year, since it had numerous loans, which needed offloading prior it figured whether it would attain its anticipations. Besides the firm had spent much on deals, which were the cause of lousy cash flow, though, it had stable financiers at its disposal. Loans repayment prompted the firm to allow LJM2 purchase 75% interest that enabled Enron to book $16 M in earnings (Eichenwald 500).

Creating $125 M, the statistics needed to incorporate the unnecessary director’s party expense, which was not for Enron’s official benefit, but involved mere squandering. Its amount ranged amid $30M to $50M, where in averaging (estimated value) we shall use $40M. That is; The profits after its increased stock value = $ 85 M Add the estimated value = +$ 40 M = $125 M Enron’s cash flow and earning took a lousy pace due to the loans it had during the year, which it cleared almost towards the end.

The earnings suffered executives’ fund mismanagement that somehow made the firm not meeting its target effectively. For instance, this entailed a party that estimated amid $30M to $50M, which the executives just assumed with Enron’s massive profit that was nothing in comparison (Eichenwald 494). Sound investment requires transparency and accountability of any firm’s deals despite their meaningless value. Enron’s earnings are less than the expected value due to mishandling and manipulation of accounting figures to attract outside people especially potential investors.

Work Cited Eichenwald, Kurt. Conspiracy of Fools. United States of America: Random House Large Print. 2005. Print.