corporate governance News

KPMG Hit With Record Fine in UK for ‘Textbook Failure’ in Carillion Audits

Britain’s accounting regulator on Thursday fined KPMG a record 21 million pounds ($26 million) for a “textbook failure” in audits of Carillion, the builder that imploded in 2018 and prompted a root and branch review of auditing standards. The collapse …

British Regulator Moves to Reform Standards for Corporate Financial Reporting

Starting in January 2024, company directors will have to give investors stronger reassurance that annual reports are free of fraud after collapses at retailer BHS and builder Carillion, Britain’s accounting watchdog said on Tuesday. The British government said in May …

Activist Investment Firm Targets Safety Insurance, Seeks Directors, Share Buyback

Activist investment firm Ides Capital Management has nominated two directors to the board of Safety Insurance Group and wants the company to buy back shares, cut costs and improve financial disclosure, according to a letter seen by Reuters. New York-based …

Where U.S. Insurers Are in Integrating Environmental, Social, Governance Issues

U.S. insurers are increasingly listening to demands from stakeholders that they use social, environmental and governance factors in their decision-making. According to an AM Best survey, 6 in 10 companies are aware of greater demand from stakeholders to consider ESG …

Nasdaq to Require Increased Board Diversity Disclosure by Listed Companies

Exchange operator Nasdaq has proposed new rules for listed companies around board diversity and disclosure. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the new listing rules, approved by Nasdaq directors on Nov. 5, would require all …

ESG Industry Booms but Investors Worry Risks Are Piling Up

LONDON— If fund managers are serious about clean investments, they need to get their hands dirty. That’s the view of Sasja Beslik, head of sustainable finance at Swiss bank J. Safra Sarasin, as demand surges for companies that perform well …

Apollo’s Insurer Unit, Athene Holding, Quietly Settles Harassment Case Against CEO

The allegations described a boss letting loose with profane tirades, sexist insults, racist comments, even physical intimidation. Purported incidents piled up for four years inside the sprawling investment empire of buyout mogul Leon Black, ending only when the accuser left …

SMEs Need to Ready for Cyber Battle: Endeavour’s Loizides

A classic mistake made by many small and medium sized enterprises is to assume that they are immune from cyber attacks because hackers and fraudsters have bigger fish to fry. As a result, SMEs can be under-prepared in the face …

Global Directors Beware: Are You Ready for EU’s Data Protection Regulation?

On May 25, 2018, the European Union (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will go into effect in the 28 EU member states. Companies, the world over, are now rushing to meet the deadline for compliance but how many will …

Aviva CEO & CFO Reduce Long-Term Bonuses After Voting Agency Concern

Aviva plc’s Chief Executive Officer Mark Wilson and the chief financial officer lowered their long-term bonuses after Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. was said to have raised concerns over 2015 compensation. Wilson’s long-term incentive plan (LTIP ) reverted back to 2014 …