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Non-Tech
LIST OF COs. THAT MAY HAVE ABUSED ACQUIRED R&D WRITEOFFS
An SI Board Since April 1999
Posts SubjectMarks Bans
41 10 0
Emcee:  Paul Berliner Type:  Unmoderated
Introduction Compact
After the recent tumble in shares if NETA, it may be prudent to scrutinize any companies you may be holding that have taken an acquired R&D charge in the last few years in connection with pooling-of-interest acquisitions. SEC Chairman Arthur Levitt had warned for over a year that the SEC would not tolerate excessive writeoffs of 'acquired R&D that has no technological feasibility', which is an aggressive bit of accounting that many software companies such as NETA had been using in order to net a partial 'rebate' on the acquisition expenses. NETA had so many pooling-of-interest acquisitions over the last 3 years that it was only a matter of time before the SEC put their books under the microscope.

The following is a self-compiled list of software companies that may have taken an excessive writeoff and thus can be subject to an SEC inquiry and a concurrent swandive in share price:

Other suspect software companies (all over $10 currently):
1. CIBER - CBR
2. Keane - KEA
3. Sterling Software - SSW
4. Seibel Systems - SEBL
5. BMC Software - BMCS
6. Parametric - PMTC
7. Synapsis - SNPS
8. Veritas Software - VRTS
9. Rational Software - RATL
10. The Learning Co. - TLC
11. Legato Systems - LGTO
12. Checkpoint Software - CHKP
13. Electronic Arts - ERTS
14. Verisign - VRSN
15. Autodesk - ADSK
Non-software
1. Tyco International - TYC
2. Snyder Communications - SNC
3. McKesson HBO - MCK
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ReplyMessage PreviewFromRecsPosted
41 I don't see any major problems usually associated with other software compaPaul Berliner-4/11/2000
40 Paul, Re. CMVT - other than the dispute with IRS, what other problems you see. Cynic 2005-4/11/2000
39 CMVT is on the new sister thread, linked in post #36. I believe that they will Paul Berliner-2/10/2000
38 paul. like the balls of this thread. curious though, would you care to share Beltropolis Boy-2/9/2000
37 Thanks, I will check them out! Cynic 2005-1/24/2000
36 Hi Mohan, check out this newer thread of my blow-up picks: Subject 31937 SincePaul Berliner-1/24/2000
35 Paul, great list you have there. I have been tracking your list and you scored Cynic 2005-1/24/2000
34 This would complete the non-software blowup hatrick: TYCO RUMORED TO HAVE ACCOUPaul Berliner-10/13/1999
33 Is this Waste Management (nee USA Waste) fiasco just another unraveling of a roThomas M.-7/14/1999
32 I guess they would revise upward for certain periods and lower for certain periPaul Berliner-7/6/1999
31 <i>If MSFT is forced to revise any earnings lower ...</i> Wouldn&#Thomas M.-7/6/1999
30 If MSFT is forced to revise any earnings lower over this ordeal, the effect on Paul Berliner-7/6/1999
29 News - MCK restatement to be worse than expected: newsalert.comPaul Berliner-5/25/1999
28cnnfn.comPaul Berliner-5/21/1999
27 Thanks for that contribution, Thomas. That article gives a more in-depth look Paul Berliner-5/4/1999
26 [Slightly Off-Topic] "What's Cookin'? The books, of course. It&#Thomas M.-5/3/1999
25 Thank you kind Sir.... may I suggest again that anyone holding these companies Paul Berliner-4/28/1999
24 Paul, Props!!! If you're not familiar with that sports expression, it meaRobert Douglas-4/28/1999
23 **NEWS** MCK's pooling w/HBO & Co. yields accounting shananigans: cbs.Paul Berliner-4/28/1999
22 BRIDGE PRESS: FASB eliminates pooling method of accounting By Luisa Beltran, Paul Berliner-4/21/1999
21 Here it is: FOCUS-U.S. accounting board votes to end "pooling" (combPaul Berliner-4/21/1999
20 Thank you for that link, Robert... I did not know that a decision was to be annPaul Berliner-4/21/1999
19 FASB to decide if pooling to be eliminated: interactive.wsj.com -Robert Robert Douglas-4/21/1999
18 VRTS down $15 today as of 1:30 pm on no news - maybe an unfavorable though not Paul Berliner-4/19/1999
17 It may or may not be connected to the Compaq resignations, but the Co. wroPaul Berliner-4/18/1999
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