...With the help of Mr Sullivan's financial engineering Mr Ebbers raced the business - now called WorldCom - through 70 deals in four years, buying up competitors and expanding his reach. Along the way the company picked up numerous fans on Wall Street, perhaps most notably Jack Grubman, a telecoms analyst at the prestigious investment bank Salomon Smith Barney. Like many analysts of the time, Mr Grubman believed that to succeed in the new era of the internet and the world wide web companies needed to create telecoms networks that spanned the globe - a goal that could only be achieved with serious financial backing. Mr Ebbers had no trouble finding people willing to give him a hand. Usually sober bankers and investment analysts were entranced by his plain-speaking manner and as the company grew its share price defied gravity. Using its valuable shares as bargaining chips and backed up by piles of debt, Mr Ebbers snatched up businesses across the US and waded into Europe. Its acquisitions included UUNet, one of the oldest carriers of internet traffic, which is still a major provider to AOL. WorldCom also sealed what at the time was the biggest deal the US stock market had seen, snatching another US communications group, MCI, from the clutches of BT. That $40bn merger in 1998 gave WorldCom an effective stranglehold on the US internet market, forcing the sale of part of MCI to another British firm, Cable & Wireless. In the deal C&W picked up a piece of internet history...
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...primarily in two ways: * Underreporting which is interconnection expenses with other telecommunication companies by capitalising these costs on the balance sheet rather than properly expensing them. * Inflating revenues with bogus accounting entries from "corporate unallocated revenue accounts".` * In 2002, a small team of internal auditors at WorldCom worked together, often at night and in secret, to investigate and found out $3.8 billion in fraud. Shortly thereafter, the company's audit committee and board of directors were notified of the fraud. * As the result, WorldCom has accumulated around $41 billion in debt. By the time it declared bankruptcy in 2002, the organization had combined loss of $73.7 billion. Ebbers and Sullivan both had multiple power based from both their formal positions in the company (legitimate and coercive power) as well as power bases that were inherent in them as individuals (expert and referent power). There were also no contingencies to their power as they basically control absolute power over all employees from highly visible positions. Legitimate Power – As the CEO and CFO of WorldCom, Bernie Ebbers and Scott Sullivan requested employees make fraudulent accounting entries using their positions in the company to get compliance from employees. They also used their power indirectly to prevent accounting staff from complaining, or knowing about the fraud by control the flow of financial information. Coercive Power – Ebbers and...
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...The Rise and Fall of WorldCom Shabnam Rakeen RES500-Fundamentals of Quantitative Analysis Colorado State University – Global Campus Dr. Barry Smith The Rise and Fall of WorldCom The aftershock of the fall of WorldCom was not only felt in the United States but all over the world. Once a company that was ranked number 4 amongst the Fortune 500 companies was losing everything and was involved in turmoil of accounting fraud and financial troubles unimagined to anyone (Pandey & Verma, 2004). The fraudulent activities and financial troubles led to WorldCom filing bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 and brought the end to a world known telecommunications company. What led to these financial troubles? How could the fraud go on for so long without notice? These were some of questions that the stakeholders of the company were gripped with. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the financial statements of WorldCom and determine whether these statements foreshadowed the troubles ahead. WorldCom was a successful telecommunications company with its history dating back to 1983. It started out as small long distance calling service provider called Long Distance Discount Service (LDDS) in 1983. Bernard Ebbers was one of the early investors in the company and 1985 became the chief executive officer of the company (Pandey & Verma, 2004). Under his direction, the company acquired Advantage Companies in 1989 and became a publically traded company. The company expanded through mergers...
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...WorldCom the Rise and Fall WorldCom began in 1983 during the breakup of AT&T, which enabled competitors to start selling long distance telephone service to individuals and business customers. A group of investors from Hattiesburg, Mississippi decided to start a communications company called Long Distance Discount Services (LDDS). The company lead by Bill Fields leased a local Bell System Wide-Area Telecommunications Service (WATS) line and resold time on the line to businesses. The sophisticated long distance technology was designed to handle a high volume of calls. The lines were leased at a fixed rate so the idea was that the more customers a company could obtain the lower cost for the company. Fields was able to sign 200 customers, however during this time the telecommunications industry was very competitive and when Bell starting raising the fixed lease rate on the lines LDDS was in trouble. By the end of the first quarter 1985 the company was losing approximately $25,000 a month. When Fields attempt to sell off the company was unsuccessful, one of the initial investors by the name of Bernard Ebbers agreed to become president and chief executive officer for LDDS, who at this time was 1.5 million dollars in debt. Ebbers, a Canadian, was a successful business owner in the hotel business. He came to the United States on a basketball scholarship to Mississippi College. Upon graduation Ebbers saw an opportunity in the motel industry and was able to borrow enough...
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...WorldCom Case Study1 By Dennis Moberg (Santa Clara University) and Edward Romar (University of Massachusetts-Boston) (The original of this document can be found at the Santa http://www.scu.edu/ethics/dialogue/candc/cases/worldcom.html#one. Clara University website at An update for this case is available at http://www.scu.edu/ethics/dialogue/candc/cases/worldcomupdate.html . Note that this update is not part of the syllabus for the PRM or Associate PRM exam. It is included for reference and explanation only.) 2002 saw an unprecedented number of corporate scandals: Enron, Tyco, Global Crossing. In many ways, WorldCom is just another case of failed corporate governance, accounting abuses, and outright greed. But none of these other companies had senior executives as colorful and likable as Bernie Ebbers. A Canadian by birth, the 6 foot, 3 inch former basketball coach and Sunday School teacher emerged from the collapse of WorldCom not only broke but with a personal net worth as a negative nine-digit number.2 No palace in a gated community, no stable of racehorses or multi-million dollar yacht to show for the telecommunications giant he created; only debts and red ink--results some consider inevitable given his unflagging enthusiasm and entrepreneurial flair. There is no question that he did some pretty bad stuff, but he really wasn't like the corporate villains of his day: Andy Fastow of Enron, Dennis Koslowski of Tyco, or Gary Winnick of Global Crossing.3 Personally, Bernie...
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...WorldCom Case Study1 By Dennis Moberg (Santa Clara University) and Edward Romar (University of Massachusetts-Boston) (The original of this document can be found at the Santa http://www.scu.edu/ethics/dialogue/candc/cases/worldcom.html#one. Clara University website at An update for this case is available at http://www.scu.edu/ethics/dialogue/candc/cases/worldcomupdate.html . Note that this update is not part of the syllabus for the PRM or Associate PRM exam. It is included for reference and explanation only.) 2002 saw an unprecedented number of corporate scandals: Enron, Tyco, Global Crossing. In many ways, WorldCom is just another case of failed corporate governance, accounting abuses, and outright greed. But none of these other companies had senior executives as colorful and likable as Bernie Ebbers. A Canadian by birth, the 6 foot, 3 inch former basketball coach and Sunday School teacher emerged from the collapse of WorldCom not only broke but with a personal net worth as a negative nine-digit number.2 No palace in a gated community, no stable of racehorses or multi-million dollar yacht to show for the telecommunications giant he created; only debts and red ink--results some consider inevitable given his unflagging enthusiasm and entrepreneurial flair. There is no question that he did some pretty bad stuff, but he really wasn't like the corporate villains of his day: Andy Fastow of Enron, Dennis Koslowski of Tyco, or Gary Winnick of Global Crossing.3 Personally, Bernie...
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...The fraud committed at WorldCom is an enigma in itself; internal auditors had a great deal of struggles to overcome. The company was bogged down by inefficiencies, with subsidiaries all over the country and little cohesion. WorldCom was governed by a tyrant whose goal was growth that could not be maintained except through constant acquisitions, which were put to a stop to protect markets. The company had no written policies or corporate code of conduct, with different divisions following different rules and policies. Employees were encouraged to fall in, not questioning decisions made by upper management providing no outlet for creativity or criticism. With so many areas of weakness and such a large and diverse company WorldCom needed a solid infrastructure of checks and balances, policies and procedures. Areas of a work plan that should have been included in prevention of WorldCom down fall are as follows; planning from top to bottom, chains of command for personnel and staffing including job descriptions, management levels controls and independence to report any suspicious or illegal activities, as well as a form of authority delegation of duties and accountability. Planning gives a company nation or individual a set of goals set down one after the other to ascertain, allowing for sense of purpose. Without purpose or direction we can get lost not sure what we want to do or where we want to go. The plan at WorldCom was to grow at dramatic rates to increase profits...
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...WorldCom By Dennis Moberg (Santa Clara University) and Edward Romar (University of Massachusetts-Boston) 2002 saw an unprecedented number of corporate scandals: Enron, Tyco, Global Crossing. In many ways, WorldCom is just another case of failed corporate governance, accounting abuses, and outright greed. But none of these other companies had senior executives as colorful and likable as Bernie Ebbers. A Canadian by birth, the 6 foot, 3 inch former basketball coach and Sunday School teacher emerged from the collapse of WorldCom not only broke but with a personal net worth as a negative nine-digit number.2 No palace in a gated community, no stable of racehorses or multi-million dollar yacht to show for the telecommunications giant he created. Only debts and red ink--results some consider inevitable given his unflagging enthusiasm and entrepreneurial flair. There is no question that he did some pretty bad stuff, but he really wasn't like the corporate villains of his day: Andy Fastow of Enron, Dennis Koslowski of Tyco, or Gary Winnick of Global Crossing.3 Personally, Bernie is a hard guy not to like. In 1998 when Bernie was in the midst of acquiring the telecommunications firm MCI, Reverend Jesse Jackson, speaking at an all-black college near WorldCom's Mississippi headquarters, asked how Ebbers could afford $35 billion for MCI but hadn't donated funds to local black students. Businessman LeRoy Walker Jr., was in the audience at Jackson's speech, and afterwards set him straight...
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...Accounting and the Fall of WorldCom Alison Painter Breeden Juanita S. Edwards, CPA ACC 557: Financial Accounting 23 January 2013 Ethics in Accounting and the Fall of WorldCom In 2002, WorldCom was the second largest telecommunications company in the United States, but because of management failures and an unethical accounting culture it went bankrupt. This paper contains a discussion describing corporate ethics currently used in business; WorldCom's background, and the ethical breach; how WorldCom's ethical issue was discovered, describing how management failed to create an ethical environment; and recommendations. A conclusion summarizes the paper. Corporate Ethics If a company is driven by its responsibility to its Shareholders, then it should base its decisions and actions on the best interests of the owners, and generate more profit. If the company is stake-holder driven then its decisions and actions should be based on what is in the best interest of those impacted by the business (Gruble, 2011). Gruble (2011) further argued that "The most widely accepted definition for business ethics says that it is a set of corporate values and codes of principles, which may be written or unwritten, by which a company evaluates its actions and business-related decisions.” WorldCom was a company driven by its responsibility to its shareholders to the point where it began to behave unethically and this ultimately led to its demise. WorldCom History and the Ethics...
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...WorldCom WorldCom was a telecommunications giant that failed and was forced into bankruptcy. WorldCom was America’s second-largest long-distance telephone company and was the largest mover of internet traffic. The company started as a small-town Mississippi company that behemoth more than sixty acquisitions in the span of fifteen years (Trans). WorldCom managed to commit the largest accounting FRAUD in history. Bernard Ebbers, WorldCom’s CEO, 63 years old, was convicted of orchestrating this 11 million dollar accounting FRAUD and was sentenced to 25 years in prison (Stefano). A major economic problem WorldCom was confronted with was the vast oversupply in the nation’s growth of telecommunication’s capacity. They were overly optimistic in terms of the growth of the internet. WorldCom and other telecommunication companies fell short because at this time there was a reduced demand for the internet. The economy went into a recession. As the STOCK MARKET fell, their INCENTIVE to engage in the FRAUDELENT accounting practices was on the rise. In mid-year 1999, beginning modestly but continuing at an accelerated pace through May 2002, under the direction of Bernie Ebbers (CEO) and Scott Sullivan (CFO) were using fraudulent accounting practices to hide the facts that their profitability and growth were declining in order to “up” the prices of WorldCom’s STOCK (The WorldCom Fraud). “The report says WorldCom has claims of FIDUCIARY DUTIES of LOYALTY AND GOOD FAITH against Mr. Ebbers because...
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...Review of Accounting Ethics ACC557 Financial Accounting Ethics in Accounting and the Fall of WorldCom In 2002, WorldCom was the second largest telecommunications company in the United States, but because of management failures and an unethical accounting culture it went bankrupt. This paper contains a discussion describing corporate ethics currently used in business; WorldCom's background, and the ethical breach; how WorldCom's ethical issue was discovered, describing how management failed to create an ethical environment; and recommendations. A conclusion summarizes the paper. Corporate Ethics If a company is driven by its responsibility to its Shareholders, then it should base its decisions and actions on the best interests of the owners, and generate more profit. If the company is stake-holder driven then its decisions and actions should be based on what is in the best interest of those impacted by the business (Gruble, 2011). Gruble (2011) further argued that "The most widely accepted definition for business ethics says that it is a set of corporate values and codes of principles, which may be written or unwritten, by which a company evaluates its actions and business-related decisions.” WorldCom was a company driven by its responsibility to its shareholders to the point where it began to behave unethically and this ultimately led to its demise. WorldCom History and the Ethics Breach In 1983, two business men, Murray Waldron and William Rector, created a plan...
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...Name: University: Course: Date: ORGANIZATION OF WORLDCOM WorldCom is accredited as the United States giant in the world of business. The company started its operations under the name of Long Distance Discount Services Inc. (LDDS) back in 1983. Six years later, it merged with Advantage Companies Inc. thereby going public under the name of LDDS WorldCom. This was later transformed to WorldCom. The company experienced rapid growth through the 1990s and when it purchased MCI in 1998, it was approaching the top. There were plans by the management to have the largest merger by communications companies but the US department of justice and the European Union foresaw an eminent period of monopoly, they stopped the move. Some companies were therefore left out in the merger of 2000. The company however experienced the biggest bankruptcy and accountancy fraud in corporate history. WorldCom was compelled to change its name MCI, one of the companies it had purchased. On 14th February 2005, Verizons agreed to acquire MCI, formerly WorldCom. (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2002-07-21-worldcom-chronology_x.htm) WorldCom since then has been operating under the banner of Verizon Business. The planning function of the management is guided by some key principles: The ethics principles ensure he privacy and security of customers’ data. At all levels transparency in financial accounting must be practiced to avoid another scandal. Innovation is...
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...B. WORLDCOM 2.0 Nature of the Fraud The nature of the fraud was the uses of fraudulent accounting method by add on huge earning in 2002 to cover the liability of acquired by company. When the earning is high, it will show that the company financial growth is high and will make the price of WorldCom's stock increase. The creative accounting was done by classified over $3.4 billion for line costs that is interconnection expenses with other telecommunication companies as capital expenditure. When the cost have been capitalised, meaning that WorldCom to spread them over many year as capital will have depreciation. Line cost supposed to record as expenses as WorldCom paid other companies because of the usage of their communication networks. Access fees and transport charges are consist in line cost expenses charges for messages for WorldCom customers. This misclassified were done between 2011 and first quarter 2002. Read more: http://www.ukessays.com/essays/accounting/nature-of-the-fraud-accounting-essay.php#ixzz3qjKkXfsR WORLDCOM'S COLLAPSE: THE OVERVIEW; WORLDCOM FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY; LARGEST U.S. CASE By SIMON ROMERO and RIVA D. ATLAS Published: July 22, 2002 • Facebook • Twitter • Google+ • Email • Share • Print • Reprints • WorldCom, plagued by the rapid erosion of its profits and an accounting scandal that created billions in illusory earnings, last night submitted the largest bankruptcy filing in United States history. The bankruptcy is expected...
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...Running Head: WORLDCOM AND ETHICS IN ACCOUNTING 1 WorldCom and Ethics in Accounting Brian Bartram Professor Hogan Strayer University Accounting 557 11/05/2012 WORLDCOM AND ETHICS IN ACCOUNTING 2 There have been many corporate and ethical breeches over the years in financial record keeping but it is believed that the current business and regulatory environment is conducive to ethical behavior. Unfortunately, publically traded companies have been prone to the proverb “one bad apple spoils the barrel”. When unethical practices are exposed, of a publically traded company, the effects can be tremendous and affect every individual or entity that is tied to the organization. For ethical principles to apply to companies, it must be shown that they can be considered moral or ethically responsible institutions. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a US regulatory agency that has the authority to establish accounting standards for publically traded companies ("Quickmba financial accounting," 2010). When the SEC was established in 1934 there was no accounting standards issuing body. The SEC has encouraged the private sector to set the standards. In 1939, encouraged by the SEC, the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts (AICPA) formed the Committee on Accounting Procedure (CAP) which dealt with accounting issues as they arose from 1939 to 1959...
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...Running head: WORLDCOM FAILURE RESHAPING BUSINESS WorldCom’s Chief Executive Officer’s Failure of Responsibilities Reshaping the Business Environment WorldCom’s Chief Executive Officer’s Failure of Responsibilities Reshaping Business Environment Bernie Ebbers’ leadership as Chief Executive Officer for WorldCom created the largest telecommunication bankruptcies and the largest bankruptcy in the corporate world. His unethical decisions to allow false financial reports to continue to be reported as inflated profits, where in reality WorldCom was losing profits while senior management was raping the money vaults. Bernie Ebbers’ action created change not only within the telecommunications world, but also within the views of responsibilities of Chief Executive Officers. In order to understand Mr. Ebbers’ shortcomings as the Chief Executive Officer of WorldCom, the role of Chief Executive Officer must be understood, in addition to basing his role against the ethical standards of today. David Elsum describes the corporate system by having three elements; a company board, a chairman, and a Chief Executive Officer. Chief Executive Officers have a unique role in today’s business. According to David Elsum, the “chief executives are responsible for company effectiveness, efficiency, profitability, and liquidity” (1988). In essence, the Chief Executive Officer should be highly effective to bring change and executing the company’s vision while being efficient...
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