UK audit shakeup: Big Four face FTSE client caps, new watchdog and a clampdown on directors March 18, 2021 Big Four dominance in the UK audit market may be diluted under new plans announced today that would see stricter regulation of the sector and executives at major firms. The government hopes the proposals, published in a consultation today by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), will lead to greater transparency in [...]
‘Priority’ BEIS audit reform report now over a month late March 9, 2021 The keenly awaited BEIS report on audit reform is now more than a month late to be published, despite business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng insisting audit reform was a “priority” for his department. City A.M. understands that the report, which is thought to be extensive, was due out on 8 February, but a month later is [...]
Exclusive: Deloitte diversity chief dumped from role after bullying accusations March 5, 2021 Exclusive: Deloitte diversity chief dumped from role after bullying accusations
PwC and EY: Our restructuring arms are not for sale March 4, 2021 Big Four firms PwC and EY have insisted they have no plans to follow in the footsteps of rivals KPMG and Deloitte and sell the restructuring units of their businesses. Selling restructuring units is in vogue at Big Four firms. This morning KPMG announced it had signed an unconditional agreement with private equity firm HIG [...]
KPMG unit sale creates new restructuring behemoth Interpath Advisory March 4, 2021 KPMG has signed an unconditional agreement to sell its restructuring practice to Interpath Advisory, a newly-formed company backed by private equity firm HIG Europe. The sale will see 22 partners and around 528 staff currently employed in KPMG’s restructuring practice transfer to Interpath Advisory, making it the largest independent restructuring and turnaround business in the [...]
Vote of confidence for London as Deloitte office sold to Hong Kong real estate business for £255m March 2, 2021 A large City of London office, used by Deloitte, has been sold to a Hong Kong-based real estate company for £255m. The 147,000 sq ft office, Athene Place at 66 Shoe Lane, recently underwent a full refurbishment before the sale. In June 2018 Henderson Park bought the space after Deloitte had vacated the building. The [...]
KPMG splits chief exec and chair roles following ‘stop moaning’ controversy February 25, 2021 KPMG will split the role of chair and chief executive, following the furore surrounding comments made by Bill Michael, its former senior partner and chair. Michael resigned earlier this month after a video surfaced online of the boss telling staff to “stop moaning” and “playing the victim”. In the video, Michael also dismissed unconscious bias [...]
KPMG enters exclusive talks with private equity firm HIG on sale of restructuring arm February 24, 2021 Big Four firm KPMG has entered into exclusive talks with private equity firm HIG Europe about the sale of its UK restructuring business The deal, first reported by Sky News, could be worth some £400m. KPMG declined to comment on the rumours, and HIG could not be reached for comment. Sky also reported HIG has [...]
PwC US to head to trial over whether it rightly fired a whistleblower February 23, 2021 PwC in the US will go to trial next Monday, in which it will have to defend its audits of two tech companies and that it rightly fired a whistleblower. Former PwC senior manager Mauro Botta has accused audit giant of firing him because he submitted complaints to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and [...]
Regulator gives green light on Big Four plans for audit separation February 23, 2021 The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has given the go ahead for the Big Four firms to press on with the next stage of separating their audit divisions from the rest of the business. The Big Four – Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC – were asked by the regulator to submit their plans for operational separation [...]