AAPL Apple Computer: Faked documents may be at core of Apple case - Law.com (81.51 ) -Update- *****
Law.com reports according to people with knowledge of Apple's situation, federal prosecutors are looking closely at stock option administration documents that were apparently falsified by co officials to maximize the profitability of option grants to execs. The faked documents were revealed in a three-month internal probe -- conducted by Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges -- that concluded in October, said individuals familiar with the case who requested anonymity because it remains the subject of criminal and civil govt investigations. Since the fruits of Apple's internal investigation were disclosed to San Francisco federal prosecutors in October, the U.S. Attorney's Office has shown great interest in the case, said individuals with knowledge of the probe. And while it's not yet clear who the prosecutors' focus is, Apple released a statement in October that "the investigation raised serious concerns regarding the actions of two former officers in connection with the accounting, recording and reporting of stock option grants." Individuals with knowledge of the case said those ex-officers are Nancy Heinen and Fred Anderson, the co's former general counsel and chief financial officer, respectively.
Law.com reports according to people with knowledge of Apple's situation, federal prosecutors are looking closely at stock option administration documents that were apparently falsified by co officials to maximize the profitability of option grants to execs. The faked documents were revealed in a three-month internal probe -- conducted by Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges -- that concluded in October, said individuals familiar with the case who requested anonymity because it remains the subject of criminal and civil govt investigations. Since the fruits of Apple's internal investigation were disclosed to San Francisco federal prosecutors in October, the U.S. Attorney's Office has shown great interest in the case, said individuals with knowledge of the probe. And while it's not yet clear who the prosecutors' focus is, Apple released a statement in October that "the investigation raised serious concerns regarding the actions of two former officers in connection with the accounting, recording and reporting of stock option grants." Individuals with knowledge of the case said those ex-officers are Nancy Heinen and Fred Anderson, the co's former general counsel and chief financial officer, respectively.

