Rise and Fall of Enron

Following are key dates in the history of energy trading giant Enron Corp. :

Jan. 28, 2002 - The wife of ex-CEO Kenneth Lay says her family lost its fortune when Enron collapsed and is fighting to avoid personal bankruptcy.

The White House digs in for a court battle with Congress over Vice President Dick Cheney's refusal to turn over documents detailing any involvement by Enron Corp. and other companies in the development of the administration's energy policy.

Jan. 25, 2002 - The personal toll of the collapse of Enron grows by one more with the apparent suicide of a former executive who had opposed the arcane accounting practices that hid billions in debt and ultimately triggered bankruptcy.

Jan. 24, 2002 - Top Andersen executives tell lawmakers that its lead partner for auditing Enron's books was largely responsible for the destruction of a "very substantial volume of documents" sought by government investigators.

Jan. 23, 2002 - Enron Chairman and Chief Executive Kenneth Lay steps down from company he led since its inception in 1986. Lay says he is unable to focus on restructuring, given the criminal, civil and congressional investigations.

Jan. 22, 2002 - Enron says Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and Justice Department representatives entered the company's Houston headquarters to search for evidence that the company was shredding documents recently.

Jan. 21, 2002 - After news reports that Enron employees were recently shredding documents, Enron said it had e-mailed employees four times between Oct. 25 and Jan. 14 asking them to preserve all documents regarding its activities and related to partnerships set up outside the company's main operations.

Jan. 17, 2002 - Enron decides to fire Andersen blaming the auditor for destroying Enron documents government investigators were seeking for a probe into the energy trader's aggressive and murky bookkeeping.

Enron auditor Andersen confirms a memo dated Feb. 6 recounted a meeting of its executives who discussed the amount of debt kept off Enron's books.

In response to the Andersen-Enron debacle, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Harvey Pitt called for a supervisory body with new powers that would eclipse those of the profession's present overseer.

Jan. 16, 2002 - Andersen mounts an advertising campaign to salvage its reputation.

Jan. 15, 2002 - Enron's stock begins trading over-the-counter after the New York Stock Exchange moves to delist its shares. Enron last traded on the NYSE at 67 cents on Jan. 10.

Accounting firm Andersen says its lead partner involved in the Enron audit, David Duncan, ordered documents destroyed after learning federal regulators wanted to see them. Andersen says it will fire the partner and places three other partners responsible for the Enron work on leave.

Jan. 14, 2002 - Congressional investigators uncover Global Finance vice president Sherron Watkins warning to Enron Chairman Kenneth Lay in August of accounting problems and a "veil of secrecy" around certain partnerships.

Jan. 11, 2002 - Swiss bank UBS AG reaches an agreement to take control of Enron's main energy trading business.

Jan. 10, 2002 - Andersen admits employees disposed of documents relating to Enron's audit.

The White House reveals that Ken Lay called U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and Commerce Secretary Don Evans in the autumn to warn them of Enron's mounting financial problems. President George W. Bush, who received major campaign contributions from Lay, orders a review headed by O'Neill of U.S. pension and disclosure rules.

Jan. 9, 2002 - The Justice Department says it has opened a criminal investigation of Enron.

Dec. 18, 2001 - Tearful Enron employees and investors tell a congressional committee how they lost their life savings in the collapse.

Dec. 13, 2001 - Executives from accounting firm Andersen tell Congress they warned Enron about "possible illegal acts" after it failed to provide crucial data about its finances to Andersen.

Dec. 12, 2001 - Congressional hearings begin on Enron's collapse. Enron unveils plans to raise up to $6 billion by selling assets.

Dec. 4, 2001 - Enron secures $1.5 billion in emergency financing from major creditors J.P. Morgan Chase and Citigroup, so it can run a skeleton operation.

Dec. 3, 2001 - Enron fires 4,000 employees, while Dynegy counter-sues for control of the Northern Natural Gas Pipeline.

Dec. 2, 2001 - Enron files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the biggest in U.S. history, and hits Dynegy with a $10 billion breach of contract lawsuit.

Nov. 28, 2001 - Major credit rating agencies downgrade Enron's bonds to "junk" status. Dynegy terminates its deal to buy Enron. Enron temporarily suspends all payments, other than those necessary to maintain core operations.

Nov. 20, 2001 - Enron discloses that a deterioration in its credit ratings could accelerate repayment of a $690 million loan. It subsequently negotiates an extension of the loan.

Nov. 9, 2001 - Enron agrees to be acquired by smaller rival Dynegy Inc. for $9 billion in stock. Under the terms, Chevron Texaco agrees to inject $1.5 billion in fresh capital.

Nov. 8, 2001 - Enron says it overstated earnings dating back to 1997 by almost $600 million.

Kenneth Lay places a second telephone call to U.S. Treasury Secretary O'Neill.

In late October and early November, Enron President Lawrence "Greg" Whalley talked to Treasury Undersecretary for Domestic Finance Peter Fisher who believed the company was asking for government intervention with a credit ratings agency.

Nov. 1, 2001 - J.P. Morgan and Salomon Smith Barney agree to provide an additional $1 billion in secured credit.

Oct. 29, 2001 - Kenneth Lay calls U.S. Commerce Secretary Evans to inform the government its credit rating was under review.

Oct. 28, 2001 - Enron Chairman Kenneth Lay calls Treasury Secretary O'Neill to give him information about Enron's financial difficulties.

Oct. 24, 2001 - Andrew Fastow is replaced as chief financial officer by Jeff McMahon.

Oct. 22, 2001 - Enron says U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is looking into transactions between Enron and the Andrew Fastow partnerships.

Oct. 17 2001 - Criticism of Enron mounts after a Wall Street Journal report discloses that Enron took $1.2 billion charge against shareholders' equity relating to dealings with partnerships run by Chief Financial Officer Andrew Fastow.

Oct. 16, 2001 - Enron reports its first quarterly loss in over four years after taking charges of $1 billion on poorly performing businesses.

Oct. 12, 2001 - Andersen in-house lawyer Nancy Temple sent email to Andersen partner Michael Odom urging him to remind the team reviewing Enron's books of the auditor's policy of retaining some materials to their reviews and destroying others.

Mid-October 2001 - White House economic advisers conducted a review of whether Enron's collapse would disrupt the economy and concluded there was little risk.

Aug. 21, 2001 - Andersen audit partner James Hecker authors memorandum to other Andersen officials, including chief Enron auditor David Duncan, regarding Enron global vice president Watkins' concerns.

Aug. 20, 2001 - Watkins discusses her Enron accounting concerns with Andersen audit partner James Hecker via telephone.

Aug. 15, 2001 - Watkins sends anonymous letter to Kenneth Lay raising concerns about the company's accounting for certain partnerships.

Aug. 14, 2001 - Jeff Skilling resigns as Enron president and chief executive officer, citing personal reasons. Kenneth Lay returns to chief executive job.

June 21, 2001 - At an appearance in California, Jeff Skilling is hit in the face with a cream pie as Enron comes under fire for "profiteering" from the electricity crisis.

May 29, 2001 - Maharashtra State Electricity Board, Dabhol power plant's sole customer, stops buying power.

March 9, 2001 - Enron and Blockbuster cancel video deal.

Feb. 12, 2001 - Jeff Skilling becomes president and chief executive officer.

Feb. 5, 2001 - Andersen holds a meeting to discuss whether to retain Enron as an auditing client, during which questions were raised about the handling of related party transactions with an Enron partnership.

December 2000 - The board of water company Azurix agrees to a buyout by Enron at $8.375 a share after Azurix fails to meet performance targets. Eighteen months earlier, Azurix had been taken public with $700 million initial public offering at $19 per share.

August 2000 - Enron's stock hits an all-time high of $90.56

July 2000 - Enron and Blockbuster announce 20-year deal to provide video-on-demand service over high-speed Internet lines.