According to Frank Ahrens (2010, April 20) not only did Lehmann Brothers hide this practice from the investing public, rating agencies, and government regulators, they even deceived their own board of directors. "In this way Lehmann reversed engineered the firm's leverage ratio for public consumption."

In 2008 analysts frequently asked about the means by which the company was able to achieve reduction in risk. Lehmann Brothers' company official reported reducing its leverage through the sale of less liquid asset categories claimed and simultaneously claimed they were trying to give the group a great amount of transparency on the balance sheet. (Ahrens, 2010, April 10)

Lehmann Brothers executives are currently under criminal investigation. Subpoenas in grand jury probes were issued as early as October, 2008. Andrew Clark (2010, March 12) reports the problem is that it isn't easy to prove fraud in many of these cases. A top law or accounting firm will have at least constructed an argument of legality before they will sign off on anything. To achieve a successful prosecution and conviction conscious wrongdoing would need to be proved. That is to say that those allegedly responsible actually knew what they were...

(2010, April 20). Lehmann brothers, the evil repo 105s and the danger of off-balance-sheet deals. washingtonpost.com, Retrieved on May 13,2010, from C:UsersOwnerDesktop
epo 105Economy Watch - Lehman Brothers, the evil Repo

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Clark, a. (2010, March 12). Lehman Brothers: Repo 105 and other accounting tricks.

Guardian.co.uk, Retrieved on May 13,2010, from C:UsersOwnerDesktop

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105Lehman Brothers Repo 105 and other accounting tricks Business

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The New York Times. (2010, April 19). Fuld: I had never heard of repo 105as c.e.o.

Retrieved on May 13, 2010, from C:UsersOwnerDesktop

epo 105Fuld I Had Never

Heard of Repo 105 as C_E_O_ - DealBook Blog - NYTimes_com.mht

Sharp, a. (2010, March 10). Lehman brothers' 'repo 105' accounting scandal:

Accounting gimmicks or outright fraud? In Wealth Daily. Retrieved on May 13, 2010,

from C:UsersOwnerDesktop

epo 105Lehman Brothers' 'Repo 105' Accounting

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