Carillion finance chiefs investigated by top accounting regulator the Financial Reporting Council March 19, 2018 Britain’s top accounting regulator has launched a probe into the actions of two of Carillion’s former finance chiefs. In a widely expected move, Richard Adam and Zafar Khan are being investigated by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). Carillion’s 2014, 2015 and 2016 annual accounts are to be probed as well as its figures for the [...]
Proxy adviser Manifest has just collapsed into administration March 16, 2018 Shareholder advisory group Manifest has today crashed into administration. Moore Stephens has been appointed as administrator of the lead proxy advisor. According to March 2017 accounts – Manifest’s latest filing with Companies House – the firm had £1.3m of debts payable within the next 12 months. Representatives for the administrators were unable to comment on [...]
Bad debt Britain: Credit insurer claims hit highest level since the financial crisis March 16, 2018 Credit insurers are being hit with the highest level of bad debt claims for nine years, a clear indication UK businesses are facing the most challenging trading environment since the financial crisis. More than £4m is being paid out each week, the most since 2009, according to figures released today by the Association of British [...]
Last Week in the City: Trump threatens trade war March 2, 2018 This week US President Donald Trump threatened a trade war, a number of famous high street names, including Toys R Us and Maplin, got into serious trading trouble and upbeat assessments of the US economy from central bankers helped the US dollar to rally, reversing its recent trend. The FTSE 100 fell 0.2 per cent [...]
Exclusive: Firebrand MP Frank Field hopes to lock horns with Sir Philip Green over Arcadia sale February 19, 2018 One of Westminster’s most dogged MPs is hoping to lock horns once again with retail tycoon Sir Philip Green following reports that the former BHS owner is looking to sell his retail empire to a Chinese textiles conglomerate. City A.M. understands Frank Field, the Labour MP who spearheaded the parliamentary investigation into Green’s doomed sale [...]
UK retailers suffer worst footfall and spending for half a decade February 12, 2018 Britain’s retailers have been dealt another blow at the start of 2018, suffering the worst January for sales and footfall in half a decade. Figures released today by retail experts Springboard show footfall dropped by 1.6 per cent last month, the worst result for January since 2013, with customer numbers on high streets falling by [...]
MP Clive Lewis claims RBS “misled” MPs over GRG, and the FCA’s summary is “sanitised”, as he reveals he has full report February 6, 2018 Labour MP Clive Lewis has accused Royal Bank of Scotland executives of “misleading” MPs and blasted the FCA for producing a “sanitised” summary of its internal report on the treatment of business customers by RBS-GRG. Speaking under Parliamentary Privilege, the shadow Treasury minister revealed he had been handed an redacted version of the FCA’s own [...]
Dragons’ Den star Julie Meyer’s bust venture capital firm Ariadne Capital owed almost £2m to employees and advisers, administrators’ report reveals February 1, 2018 The venture capital and corporate finance firm of former Dragons’ Den star Julie Meyer, which was put into administration at the end of last year, owes almost £2m to unpaid employees and advisers, City A.M. can reveal. Ariadne Capital, which was founded and owned by TV personality Julie Meyer, owes £530,692 to 14 current and [...]
Dragons’ Den star’s bust corporate finance firm owed almost £2m to employees and advisers, administrators’ report reveals February 1, 2018 The corporate finance firm of former Dragons' Den star Julie Meyer, which was put into administration at the end of last year, owes almost £2m to unpaid employees and advisers, City A.M. can reveal. Ariadne Capital, which was founded and owned by TV personality Julie Meyer, owes £530,692 to 14 current and former employees, according [...]
Carillion collapse poses big questions for investors, Jes Staley’s FCA delay goes on and The Range floats chairs January 26, 2018 When in doubt, blame the accountants: a mantra which has gathered momentum after virtually every big corporate collapse since the financial crisis. Carillion is no exception. It seems obvious to ask now why KPMG signed off the construction group’s accounts in March without the merest hint of anxiety. Hindsight being a wonderful thing, the wafer-thin [...]