Here's a look at how Lehman Brothers worked out the process of repurchasing assets and counting them as sales. "'So it's legally doable but doesn't look good when we actually do it? Does the rest of the street do it?' one Lehman employee asks another in emails included in the report. The answers, respectively, are yes and no, followed by a smiley face." CONFIDENCE-INSPIRING.
It was just Lehman's way of saying the check's in the mail.
This is pretty funny too:
"MR. FULD'S LAWYER, Patricia Hynes, has said he didn't know about Repo 105. As for presentations about it that were emailed to his office before an executive committee meeting, she explained that he doesn't use a computer, and isn't able to open attachments on his BlackBerry."
But was it the winky smiley face (i.e., ;) )? I need more information!