Grassley Joins Effort to Seek Data on Agency Support of Enron
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Committee on Finance, todayco-signed letters to three government agencies seeking information on any actions they took insupport of the Enron Corp. The letters to the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the OverseasPrivate Investment Corporation and the Trade and Development Agency follow.
January 31, 2002
Mr. John E. Robson
President and Chairman
Export-Import Bank of the United States
811 Vermont Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20571
Dear Mr. Robson:
We are writing to you regarding the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank)and its support of Enron Corp. (Enron) over the years. As the Finance Committee begins its reviewof Enron, it will be beneficial to understand all actions that Ex-Im Bank took in support of Enron.Please provide since 1985, the year Enron was formed, a listing of all actions that Ex-Im Bankhas taken in support of Enron’s business activities. This would include any loans, loan guarantees,insurance, working capital guarantees, export credit insurance, etc., that was in support of an Enroninitiative or used to support an overseas Enron project (or initiative/project in which Enron was asignificant participant). Please also list all instances when Enron was denied assistance from Ex-ImBank.
In providing this list, please list separately for each activity/project: 1) the dollar amountinvolved; 2) who made the decision to approve or disapprove as well as all decision memoranda orloan write-up documents; 3) any communications received from Congress, the Administration(officials outside of Ex-Im Bank) and the private sector in support or opposition; 4) copies of allapplications and related material provided by Enron to Ex-Im Bank; 5) all board of director minutes,where applicable; 6) all minutes and documents related to loan committee actions or senior vicepresident authorizations for actions on behalf of Enron.
For context, please provide an overall guidance on how Ex-Im Bank decides to support aproject and who makes the decision at low, medium and high dollar authorizations. Please explainhow Ex-Im Bank reviews the financial viability of a company to which it provides support, and whatcredit standards it employs. Please provide all material related to Enron in Ex-Im’s review Werecredit decisions made toward Enron modified in any manner? What advisory capacity did Enronhave, if any, in regard to Ex-Im Bank’s development of policies and guidelines?
Finally, as a result of the bankruptcy of Enron, what liabilities does Ex-Im bank currently holdthat will be charged to its credit subsidy budget or add to other liabilities of Ex-Im Bank? Is itaccurate to state that ultimately the American taxpayer will have to pay these amounts?
Thank you for your time and assistance. Given the timeframe of the Committee, we wouldask for your response by February 12, 2002.
Cordially yours,
Max Baucus
Chairman
Charles E. Grassley
Ranking Member
cc: Board of Directors
Ex-Im Bank
January 31, 2002
Peter S. Watson
President and CEO
Overseas Private Investment Corporation
1100 New York Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20527
Dear Mr. Watson:
We are writing to you regarding the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) andits support of Enron Corp. (Enron) over the years. As the Finance Committee begins its review ofEnron, it will be beneficial to understand all actions that OPIC took in support of Enron.Please provide since 1985, the year Enron was formed, a listing of all actions that OPIC hastaken in support of Enron’s business activities -- specifically political risk insurance offered by OPICthat was in support of an Enron initiative or used to support an overseas Enron project (orinitiative/project in which Enron was a significant participant). Please list all instances of Enronutilizing OPIC Investment Funds. Please also list all instances when Enron was denied assistancefrom OPIC.
In providing this list, please list separately for each activity/project: 1) the dollar amountinsured; 2) who made the decision to approve or disapprove as well as all decision memoranda; 3)any communications received from Congress, the Administration (officials outside of OPIC) and theprivate sector in support or opposition; 4) copies of all applications and related material providedby Enron to OPIC; 5) all board of director minutes, where applicable; 6) all minutes and documentsrelated to decision committee actions or senior management authorizations for actions on behalf ofEnron.
For context, please provide an overall explanation of how OPIC decides to support a projectand who makes the decision for OPIC participation. Please explain how OPIC reviews the financialviability of a company to which it provides support, and what credit standards it employs. Pleaseprovide all material related to OPIC in its review of Enron. Were credit decisions regarding Enronmodified in any manner? What advisory capacity did Enron have, if any, in development of OPICpolicies and guidelines?
Finally, as a result of the bankruptcy of Enron, what liabilities does OPIC currently hold thatwill be charged to its credit subsidy budget or add to other liabilities of OPIC? Is it accurate to statethat ultimately the American taxpayer will have to pay these amounts?
Thank you for your time and assistance. Given the timeframe of the Committee, we wouldask for your response by February 12, 2002.
Cordially yours,
Max Baucus
Chairman
Charles E. Grassley
Ranking Member
January 31, 2002
Ms. Thelma Askey
Director
Trade and Development Agency
1621 North Kent Street
Arlington, VA 22209
Dear Ms. Askey:
We are writing to you regarding the Trade and Development Agency (TDA) and possiblesupport of Enron Corp. (Enron). As the Finance Committee begins its review of Enron, it will beuseful to understand all actions that TDA may have taken in support of Enron.
Please provide since 1985, the year Enron was formed, a listing of all actions that TDA hastaken in support of Enron’s business activities. This would include any grants, feasibility studies,orientation visits, specialized training grants or various forms of technical assistance that wereprovided to Enron projects or project sponsors (or initiative/project in which Enron was a significantparticipant). Please also list all instances when Enron was denied assistance from TDA.
In providing this list, please list separately for each activity/project: 1) the dollar amountinvolved; 2) who made the decision to approve or disapprove as well as all decision memoranda orgrant write-up documents; 3) any communications received from Congress, the Administration(officials outside of TDA) and the private sector in support or opposition; 4) copies of allapplications and related material provided by Enron to TDA. For context, please provide an overallguidance on how TDA decides to support a project and who makes the decision.
Thank you for your time and assistance. Given the timeframe of the Committee, we wouldask for your response by February 12, 2002.
Cordially yours,
Max Baucus
Chairman
Charles E. Grassley
Ranking Member
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