Myners: risk from big four January 18, 2011 LORD Myners yesterday told a parliamentary committee that the concentration of auditing services among the “big four” accounting firms represents a systemic risk. Appearing before the House of Lords’ Economic Affairs Committee, the former City minister said that successive mergers had led to firms not having enough alternatives to Deloitte, Ernst & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG when [...]
Diary January 30, 2011 LIQUIDITY INFUSIONS Famous for the harsh schedule inflicted upon its toiling delegates, this year’s party merry-go-round at Davos was no exception. Drinks and well-watered dinners kick off from 6pm, with the central Belvedere hotel boasting around a dozen venues for simultaneous drunken revelry. They then proceeded to a collection of “nightcaps” at 10pm, and usually end [...]
Travel group bosses gain after failure January 3, 2011 THE former finance director of Europe’s largest tour operator has pocketed a £757,000 share deal just weeks after he stepped down over a £117m black hole in the firm’s accounts. Paul Botwell, who exited TUI Travel in October, gained from a share payout to five senior directors amounting to £4.9m on 30 December. Chief executive [...]
Travel group bosses gain after failure January 3, 2011 THE former finance director of Europe’s largest tour operator has pocketed a £757,000 share deal just weeks after he stepped down over a £117m black hole in the firm’s accounts. Paul Botwell, who exited TUI Travel in October, gained from a share payout to five senior directors amounting to £4.9m on 30 December. Chief executive [...]
JJB Sports to fight for new rent proposal February 13, 2011 JJB SPORTS was heading for a battle with its landlords and other retailers after confirming its company voluntary agreement (CVA) is to include the renegotiation of two-fifths of its rent payments. The company has warned its biggest landlords, including British Land, Henderson and Prudential, that if its terms for discount rent and tenancy breaks for [...]
KPMG wins award for values June 6, 2010 BUSINESS in the Community’s (BITC) annual corporate responsibility index is announced today, with professional services firm KPMG leading the pack with the highest possible overall rating and four Big Tick awards. The company has been awarded a platinum plus rating for its environmentally friendly offices and ban on short haul flights. It is one of [...]
For those without family connections, professional qualifications are a lifeline April 12, 2011 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (BRAND), ACCA LAST week, Nick Clegg launched the government’s new social mobility strategy to great fanfare. With slightly more fanfare, the press and opposition skipped over the strategy and focused on Clegg’s use of unpaid interns and the parental help he’d had to start his career. Amusing headlines – not if you’re Nick [...]
Survey: new rules will hit bank profits November 22, 2010 NEW rules forcing banks to hold more capital could permanently depress profits and hit tax revenues and jobs, a survey has found. Liquidity buffers three times their present size will increase banks’ costs sharply and permanently reduce profit margins, according to the Evolving Bank Regulation study from business and tax consultants KPMG. The moves will [...]
City responds to calls to make a commitment to personal finance January 12, 2011 SINCE the launch of City A.M.’s Campaign for Financial Literacy yesterday, the number of positive responses received from City firms that are already engaged in education initiatives has been incredibly encouraging. Financial planners Killik, for example, has been developing a web-based tutorial known as Money in Mind. The site uses simple graphics and language to [...]
Connaught debt to reach £100m after bills found November 7, 2010 Collapsed property services firm Connaught’s debts could pass £100m after the administrator KPMG discovered 50,000 additional invoices. Bills for everything from Dairy Crest milk to RBS bank loans have been left unpaid, according to a report by KPMG following Connaught’s collapse in September. Unsecured lenders exposed to the firm’s social maintenance arm will recover at [...]