Watchdog plans for audit sector shake-up set to draw backlash from businesses January 6, 2019 Finance bosses at some of Britain’s largest FTSE companies are set to hit out at new proposals put forward by the UK’s competition regulator, it emerged this evening. Plans by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to make publicly listed firms appoint two sets of auditors are expected to receive a harsh backlash from a [...]
Carillion bosses face fresh questioning from Insolvency Service 11 months on from dramatic collapse December 30, 2018 Carillion’s former bosses were hauled in front of Insolvency Service investigators at the start of December to answer questions about its collapse according to reports. Philip Green, chairman of the company when it went bust in mid-January, and ex-chief executive Richard Howson, could face bans from taking boardroom positions for up to 15 years. Sky [...]
Interserve agrees key terms of rescue deal with lenders and is considering handing off building materials unit to lenders December 21, 2018 Interserve has agreed on the key terms of a rescue deal with its lenders and is still considering a debt-for-equity swap by handing off subsidiary RMD Kwikform to the holders of its debt. The British business support services provider said on Friday that its rescue plan will see a big part of the company’s £500m debt converted into [...]
Kier leads the FTSE’s morning fallers after investors shun call for cash December 20, 2018 Shares in outsourcing group Kier fell by almost 15 per cent as markets opened this morning, after the firm revealed that investors only bought 38 per cent of the new shares it had issued as part of a fundraising effort. Kier announced last month that it would turn to the market in a heavily-discounted share [...]
The Pensions Regulator names Charles Counsell as new chief executive December 18, 2018 The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has appointed the head of the Money Advice Service as its new chief executive. Charles Counsell, who was formerly executive director of automatic enrolment at TPR, will replace outgoing chief executive Lesley Titcomb in April. Counsell said: “The work that TPR does is ever more important in a world where millions [...]
Report into audit sector commissioned by John McDonnell calls for break-up of Big Four December 14, 2018 A report into the audit sector commissioned by shadow chancellor John McDonnell has called for the break-up of the Big Four audit firms. The report, published today, recommended that the audit business of accounting firms must be legally separate from everything else and says it should be a criminal offence for auditors to perform non-audit [...]
Balfour Beatty set to grow revenues against backdrop of struggling construction rivals December 14, 2018 Balfour Beatty is on course to beat expectations after selling off more of its infrastructure investment stakes in December, the engineering firm said today. The engineering firm expects to net about £65m in profit from the disposals over the full year, which come under its Build to Last transformation programme that will also see it sell [...]
Editor’s Notes: Wherever Brexit takes us, let’s hope it’s not Norway December 14, 2018 Theresa May remains in office, and all her difficulties remain with her. By surviving Wednesday night’s vote, she has secured a grace period of 12 months during which time she cannot be challenged again. However, Labour MPs are determined to call a parliamentary vote of no confidence in the government, which could destroy the Tory-DUP [...]
Serco stands out from outsourcing crowd with bullish trading update predicting strong profit growth December 13, 2018 Outsourcer Serco delivered a confident trading update today forecasting a 30-40 per cent increase in underlying profit for the year, despite the gloom that is gripping its rivals. The company predicted profit in the range of £90 to £95m, it upgraded its earnings per share forecasts for 2018 and 2019 and said its leverage and [...]
Suppliers uneasy about Interserve payments as outsourcer’s shares edge back from the brink December 12, 2018 Interserve’s suppliers are worried they will not receive payments from the debt-stricken outsourcer, as its share prices nudge back up from a low of 6p. Smaller subcontractors carrying out work on behalf of the company are “extremely worried they will not be paid,” said Rudi Klein, chief executive of trade body Specialist Engineering Contractors' (SEC) [...]