It can be hard to protest one's innocence when your company is being pursued by regulators for stock option backdating irregularities and some pesky investigator turns up internal company emails with executives talking about "magic backdating ink." Hmmm... I wonder if the feds will show the Mercury Interactive executive team that magical white collar correctional facility? Details (coincidentally) at The Mercury News.

Take note of the quote-love for Mr. Peter Henning, Wayne State business law professor and friend of The Daily Caveat (Peter and I we share a fondness for the exploits of former Louisiana governor, felon and all around colorful character, Edwin Edwards).

You should already be reading Peter's fine White Collar Crime Prof blog, co authored with Ellen Podgor. You'll find more of Peter's recent comments on Mercury Interactive right here.

-- MDT

Labels: backdating, email, Mercury Interative, Peter Henning, stock options