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Dell to Rewrite Cooked Books

Audit to lower company's stated net income by up to $150M

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 17, 2007 2:53 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Dell computer company will have to restate four years of financial data after an audit revealed that executives inflated numbers to meet quarterly goals, firm officials announced yesterday. The adjustments would lower the company's stated net income by as much as $150 million, Reuters reports. But analysts say the news is better than expected, with Dell rising 3 percent in after-hours trading.

"Most of the changes look relatively minimal,” said one analyst, noting expected revenue reductions of 1 percent or less, lower than many anticipated. The figure is low enough to have no “material” impact on company's current balance sheet, company officials insist.The probe turned up many accounting irregularities, mostly in accrued and reserve liability accounts, toward the end of each quarter.

Dell chairman and CEO Michael Dell arrives at the annual Allen and Co.'s media conference Friday, July 13, 2007, in Sun Valley, Idaho.  (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)
Dell chairman and CEO Michael Dell arrives at the annual Allen and Co.'s media conference Friday, July 13, 2007, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)   (Associated Press)
Chairman of Dell Inc., Michael Dell replies to a question at a press conference in Bangalore, India, in this Monday, March 20, 2006 file photo.  Dell Inc. on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007, said it will reduce more than four years' worth of earnings by up to $150 million after an...
Chairman of Dell Inc., Michael Dell replies to a question at a press conference in Bangalore, India, in this Monday, March 20, 2006 file photo. Dell Inc. on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007, said it will reduce...   (Associated Press)
The headquarters building of computer giant Dell, Inc. is shown in this 2006 file photo in Round Rock, Texas.Dell said Thursday it will reduce more than four years' worth of earnings by up to $150 million after an internal probe found the company misled its auditors and manipulated results...
The headquarters building of computer giant Dell, Inc. is shown in this 2006 file photo in Round Rock, Texas.Dell said Thursday it will reduce more than four years' worth of earnings by up to $150 million...   (Associated Press)
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