Cms Energy Scandal and Rebound
Beginning in 2000, CMS Marketing, Services and Trading Company began to make energy trades that had no economic justification. As stated in the Securities and Exchange Commission cease and desist order ¡§CMS materially overstated its revenues, expenses and energy-trading volumes in 2000 and 2001 through the use of undisclosed round-trip energy transactions conducted by its Houston-based energy-trading division, MS&T.¡¨ These trades have now become known as "round-trip" trades. CMS issued false Press Releases describing the trades as low margin trades when in fact there were no margins. The Company admits that $5.2 billion of these trades were made in 2000 and 2001.
Round Trip Trades
Round trip or wash trades are simultaneous, pre-arranged buy-sell trades of energy with the same counter-party, at the same price and volume, and over the same term, resulting in neither profit nor loss to either transacting party. No money is made or lost, but the deals can create the appearance of higher trading volumes and revenues.
The Securities and Exchange Commission found in 2004 that by recording revenues and expenses from the round-trip trades, CMS overstated its revenues and expenses by a total of $5.2 billion over a one-year period: $1.0 billion (10% of revenue) in 2000 and $4.2 billion (36% of revenue) for the first three quarters of 2001. Likewise, CMS overstated MS&T's reported energy-trading volume by 78% in 2000 and 72% in 2001. The round trip trades inflated CMS sales and influenced stock prices. As pressure grew on companies to increase their trading activity, these wash trades apparently became a common practice.
Along with CMS Energy, Duke Energy, Dynegy Inc. and Reliant Resources Inc. have all admitted to conducting round-trip trades. CMS energy stated that all of its round-trip trades were made with either Dynegy Inc. or Reliant Energy Services. LCG consulting found that the SEC has been conducting a formal investigation of Dynegy, and last week Reliant
Round Trip Trades
Round trip or wash trades are simultaneous, pre-arranged buy-sell trades of energy with the same counter-party, at the same price and volume, and over the same term, resulting in neither profit nor loss to either transacting party. No money is made or lost, but the deals can create the appearance of higher trading volumes and revenues.
The Securities and Exchange Commission found in 2004 that by recording revenues and expenses from the round-trip trades, CMS overstated its revenues and expenses by a total of $5.2 billion over a one-year period: $1.0 billion (10% of revenue) in 2000 and $4.2 billion (36% of revenue) for the first three quarters of 2001. Likewise, CMS overstated MS&T's reported energy-trading volume by 78% in 2000 and 72% in 2001. The round trip trades inflated CMS sales and influenced stock prices. As pressure grew on companies to increase their trading activity, these wash trades apparently became a common practice.
Along with CMS Energy, Duke Energy, Dynegy Inc. and Reliant Resources Inc. have all admitted to conducting round-trip trades. CMS energy stated that all of its round-trip trades were made with either Dynegy Inc. or Reliant Energy Services. LCG consulting found that the SEC has been conducting a formal investigation of Dynegy, and last week Reliant
References: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (2004, March) The Matter of CMS Energy Corp. and Terry Woolley. Retrieved August 1, 2006 from http://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/33-8403.htm Holyfield, J. (2002, November). CMS Energy Board Announces Completion of Special Committee 's Round-Trip Trading Investigation; Company Announces Price Index Reporting Review. Retrieved August 5, 2006, from http:// www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=CMS&script=410&layout=-6&item_id=352601 CMS Energy Corp. Admits $4.4 Billion in "Round-Trip" Trading. Retrieved August 7, 2006 fromhttp://www.energyonline.com/Industry/News.aspx?NewsID=5814&CMS_ Energy_Corp._Admits_%244.4_Billion_in_%22Round-Trip%22_Trading