Europe will dominate audit in 2013 January 15, 2013 Involvement with the EU on legislation and regulation is crucial THE Mayans’ reputation as expert astrologers and doomsday forecasters recently took a knock when 21 December 2012 came – and safely went. You could argue that we shouldn’t have paid so much attention to this forecast, given that the Mayans spectacularly failed to predict there [...]
Our at-a-glance guide to Osborne’s mini-Budget December 5, 2012 THE UK ECONOMIC OUTLOOK ■ The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has revised down its forecast for UK growth and revised up its forecast for public sector borrowing. It says the government is no longer likely to meet its target of reducing debt as a proportion of GDP in 2015-16, breaking its supplementary fiscal rule. [...]
The HP Autonomy allegations reveal US-UK differences November 22, 2012 ANOTHER US-UK economic conflict is brewing, following HP’s revelation that it has taken an $8.8bn (£5.5bn) write-down. It comes after the claim that it had discovered “serious accounting improprieties” at Autonomy, the British software company. Autonomy completely denies the allegations, of course. But like Standard Chartered’s run-in with the New York regulator over Iranian sanctions, [...]
Why is Citi backing our appeal? November 21, 2012 THE CAPITALIST asks Bob Annibale, Citi’s global director of microfinance, why the bank is supporting the City A.M. Christmas Appeal this year. Citi has been supporting Opportunity International since 1994. The Citi Foundation and Opportunity’s missions were then, and continue to be, well aligned, with both organisations supporting the economic empowerment and financial inclusion of [...]
HP’s staggering accusations drag in City’s largest firms November 20, 2012 THIS paper does its best to avoid editorial hyperbole, but when a firm takes an $8.8bn writedown on an $11bn acquisition barely 12 months after the deal I might just make an exception. It’s completely flabbergasting. Analysts and shareholders alike may have baulked at the steep price that Hewlett-Packard shelled out for UK tech darling [...]
Plans to restore audit reputation November 20, 2012 THE FINANCIAL reporting watchdog has kicked off a project to try and help auditors to rebuild trust in their profession. On the same day that auditors for Autonomy came under scrutiny following Hewlett-Packard’s $8.8bn (£5.5bn) post-acquisition writedown, the Financial Reporting Council said it wants to examine the skills and responsibilities needed to publish useful audits. [...]
E&Y gets Farepak audit complaint November 15, 2012 Ernst & Young (E&Y) faces disciplinary action over its audit of the parent company of Farepak, the savings firm that collapsed shortly before Christmas 2006. The Financial Reporting Council said it has filed a disciplinary formal complaint against the big four auditor and one of its former staff for signing off Farepak’s 2005 accounts and [...]
Top City figures are dropped as Cameron’s trade ambassadors November 13, 2012 DAVID Cameron has decided to drop several leading City figures from the list of UK business ambassadors, it was revealed yesterday. Those told their services will no longer be required include Sir Victor Blank, the former Lloyd’s chairman who oversaw the bank’s disastrous merger with HBOS. Ex-Merrill Lynch banker Bob Wigley and Baroness Hogg, chairman [...]
What the other papers say this morning November 12, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES KKR launches funds for individuals KKR – the private equity group immortalised as the Barbarian at the Gate – is launching two investment funds to be distributed to individuals by Charles Schwab, the US brokerage. It is the latest sign of the pressure on private equity firms to become more like traditional asset [...]
Meet our panel of City judges October 17, 2012 Allister Heath, City A.M. Allister joined City A.M. as editor in 2008. He oversees all of the content in the newspaper and also writes a daily Editor’s Letter. He is also a frequent contributor to other print and broadcast media, and is a regular guest on TV news. David Hellier, City A.M. David has been [...]