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Enron Mail |
Yesterday I was informed that there was a concern about the financial
stability of one of the reload facilities we currently use in the Chicago area, Premier Reload Inc. I met with Romney Ruder, Lumber trader, Roy Lipsett, Logistics, and Mike Moscoso, Lumber business controller, this morning to gather information and develop a plan. This is summarized below. General Information: Premier is a facility we have been using for a few months, located in Franklin Park within Chicago. We deliver to the facility via railcar, and ship out via truck. We currently have about 3.8 million board feet, valued at about $1 million, in the facility. During the holidays, we began experiencing problems with our railcars not being unloaded timely. We have been pressing for information, and are hearing rumors that have raised significant concerns. Although Enron has not received written notification, we learned today that Premier notified customers that they would not be taking in any more products. Additionally, we have heard that the owner, Jeff Leske, is closing the facility, and will be going to work for another reload facility in Chicago, Reserve Marine Terminal (RMT). We have been in negotiations with RMT for a long term arrangement, and much of the information we have obtained is through our contact there. In fact, we have diverted recent shipments to RMT. There is a rumor that Premier and /or Leske may declare bankruptcy. There is a rumor that Premier has been incurring "switching" fees with the railroad (IHB) and has not been paying them. There is a rumor that Premier has not been paying employment taxes and there are problems with the IRS. All in all, there are many rumors but very few known facts. Plan: Met with Legal today to get advice. They recommended moving the product ASAP, but until moved, we needed to confirm the product was marked as "Enron" product, and that it is stored separately from other product. They are drafting a contract to specify the arrangement with Premier. It will be ready tomorrow. Met with Credit. They are not a included in the reload selection process, so the financial stability of the company has not been reviewed. A D&B was pulled today, and it confirms a lien filed by the IRS on 6/22/00 for $86,128. There is one suit pending by a trucking company in a nominal amount, filed 1/13/00. The company is owned 100% by Leske, and was started in 1995. Very little other information is available, and D&B did not assign a PAYDEX score. Mike Moscoso and Romney Ruder are going to the premises tomorrow to: gather financial information, intentions of the owner and the associated timeline, substantiate the inventory, and get the contract signed that Legal is drafting. On Friday morning, Roy Lipsett will join them to meet with RMT, discuss movement of the product and complete the negotiations. Depending on the information gathered tomorrow, we will determine next steps. If we start moving the product to RMT, the estimated timeline is about 13 to 14 days, moving 10 trucks per day (total truckloads = 135). Estimated cost for the movement is about is $25,000. Another $25,000 would be incurred for unload fees at RMT if we can't get them to wave them. About half of the product has already been sold, and will be delivered over the next 5 weeks. Romney is working with customers to determine if they can take the product earlier. I will keep you informed as to the next events. However, we need to take immediate steps to put a policy and process in place for warehousing facilities. I have initiated weekly cross-functional staff meetings (Tax, Legal, Credit, IT, Logistics, Fundemental Analysis, Accounting, etc.), and our first meeting is scheduled for tomorrow. I will have this on the agenda, and will lead the effort to develop the process. Please let me know if you have any questions. Brenda x35778
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