The Securities and Exchange Commission is preparing to fine telephone-equipment giant Nortel Networks as much as $100 million for accounting fraud, according to published reports. The reports also noted that SEC attorneys sought permission from the commissioners to inflict a fine of less than $100 million -- the first instance of a new policy that gives the politically appointed commissioners more say in corporate penalties. Previously, attorneys negotiated settlements without consulting the commissioners. Toronto-based Nortel inflated its earnings by $3.4 billion between 2001 and 2004, when the SEC began an investigation of the company's accounting. As an indicator of the scale of the possible fine, late in 2006, federal judges signed off on an estimated $2.4 billion payout by Nortel to settle a shareholder lawsuit.
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The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board today sanctioned Goldman & Company, CPA's, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, and PWR CPAs.
8h ago -
The Senate passed a bipartisan bill that would provide tax-filing relief for taxpayers in states that have issued state-level disaster declarations, sending the bill to President Trump for his signature.
8h ago -
Wiss hosts third annual summer financial literacy program; Schneider Downs adds five shareholders; and more news from across the profession.
11h ago -
Plus, Abacus announces $6.6 million seed funding for agentic AI assistants; and other news and updates from the accounting tech arena.
July 11 -
Underhanded underground; down on the farm; reality check; and other highlights of recent tax cases.
July 10 -
Smith + Howard, an Atlanta-based Top 100 Firm, has opened two new tax practices: site selection + incentives and state and local income tax consulting.
July 10