This could have been a way of fabricating earnings to permit the executives to reap stock bonuses.

In Sprint's case, regulators blocked the deal, but the executives had already reaped the spoils.

When the stock rebounded, the executive reaped a much larger amount from exercising his options than he would have if the exercise prices had not been cut.

Top executives often reap tremendous monetary benefits when a government owned or non-profit entity is sold to private hands.

The executives certainly have reaped considerable rewards already, at least financially.

Other top executives also reaped large increases in salaries and bonuses.

The executives had exercised stock options in July 1986 and, under Federal securities law, could not reap a profit on stock sales for six months.

Top executives reap the primary share of options granted at most major companies.

The incentive plan has allowed the top executives "to reap perhaps over $100 million in payments, substantially from improper (and in this case illegal) accounting procedures," the suit contends.

In particular, they are attacking the practice of repricing options downward, which lets executives reap windfalls even after their company's stock falls.