Regulator closes investigation into KPMG auditing of BAE August 1, 2013 The investigation into the conduct of KPMG as an auditor of British Aerospace/BAE is over. Launched in 2010, the Accountancy and Actuarial Discipline Board (AADB) was investigating the audits and professional services adviced provided during the period 1997 to 2007. Subsequent investigations have shown that proper assessment of KPMG’s conduct would require consideration of work [...]
Hargreaves hits out at auditors July 30, 2013 FINANCIAL services firm Hargreaves Lansdown has dropped Deloitte as its auditor, appointing PwC for the 2014 financial year. The group also criticised the closeness of firms with their auditors. CEO Ian Gorham said: “Failing to seek fresh expert challenge should be a source of embarrassment.” Hargreaves Lansdown has used Deloitte’s services since 2006, and the [...]
City Moves for 31 July 2013 | Who’s switching jobs July 30, 2013 Aviva Investors The asset management business has announced the appointment of Abigail Herron as head of engagement in its global responsible investment team. She joins from Co-operative Asset Management, where she headed its corporate governance function. Baker Tilly Alex Birch has been appointed associate director in the advisory firm’s restructuring and recovery team. Birch has [...]
London housing begins to price out businesses July 28, 2013 BUSINESSES warned the government today that rising property prices could undermine investment in the capital, as firms struggle to keep up. According to the statement by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and KPMG, the shortage of housing has risen from companies’ third most pressing concern to their second since December, overtaking transport. The number [...]
City Moves for 29 July 2013 | Who’s switching jobs July 28, 2013 KPMG The professional services firm has announced the appointment of James Wakelin to its real estate advisory team. Wakelin has 11 years’ experience in real estate investment and financing. He was most recently at Pacific Real Estate Capital Partners, where he was a director. Prior to that, he was a director at UBS Investment Bank, [...]
City Moves for 24 July 2013 | Who’s switching jobs July 23, 2013 Marsh Jane Barker has been appointed chairman at the insurance company. She is currently chief executive of Equitas, a position she has held for six years. She was previously chief operating officer at the London Stock Exchange. PwC The professional services company has announced the appointment of Umang Paw as a partner, and head of [...]
UK regulator to boost audit market competition July 22, 2013 BRITAIN’S top companies will have to put their accounting business out to tender every five years to encourage competition between audit firms, the Competition Commission proposed today. The regulator outlined its plans to break the stranglehold of the ‘big four’ accounting firms: Deloitte, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young, ahead of its final report this [...]
Compulsory audit tenders could cost consumers quality, money and competition July 22, 2013 The Competition Commission (CC) has shied away from compulsory auditor switching, instead pushing for mandatory tenders every five years, in an attempt to break up the big four (PwC, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG). FTSE 350 companies should put their statutory audit engagement out to tender at least every five years. Companies may defer this [...]
The Carlyle Group buys British packaging supplier Chesapeake July 4, 2013 GLOBAL asset manager The Carlyle Group yesterday announced that it has acquired UK-headquartered packaging supplier Chesapeake from private equity house Irving Place Capital and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management. The deal value is understood to be near £500m, with debt already in place. Financing was provided by Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, UBS and Barclays. [...]
Coming Soon: The death of paper money June 24, 2013 BRITONS did 10 per cent less of their shopping with cash last year as people turn their backs on coins and notes – leading some analysts to predict a cash-free future. Only eight per cent of consumers believe that traditional coinage will be the payment method of choice by 2020, with contactless cards and new [...]