Saturday November 21, 2009
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Accounting & Audit
Five Corporate Tax Issues Every Board Member Should Understand
October 21, 2009 by Kate Barton
Corporate tax issues may not be the first thing on board members’ minds. But they should occupy a prominent position on any board’s agenda, especially in today’s economy.

Fraud Report: Financial Services Hardest Hit
October 19, 2009
A report from Kroll demonstrates that instances of fraud rose only marginally in the last year.

Under Pressure: Maintaining an Effective Ethics and Compliance Program
October 15, 2009 by Sven Erik Holmes
The troubled economy may leave some organizations mired in regulatory or legal problems.

Fifteen Risk Factors for Poor Governance
September 8, 2009 by Walter Smiechewicz
A self-diagnostic to identify risk factors for poor governance and reporting

Got a Pen? Five Critical Benchmarking Questions
September 2, 2009 by Mary Pat McCarthy
At a time when expectations for effective oversight are extraordinarily high, and the business and regulatory landscapers are changing, time invested in audit committee issues and board introspection is well spent.

Rise in Fraud Expected
August 25, 2009
Pressures to stem the tide of reduced earnings along with the availability of trillions of dollars infused by the government to stabilize the market could heighten the risk of fraud and misconduct.

The Great Fair-Value Debate
August 18, 2009 by Cindy Fornelli
The results of this sometimes-contentious public dialogue have far-reaching implications for corporate directors and the rest of the American business community.

Achieving Greater Transparency
August 1, 2009 by Ben Neuhausen
A more comprehensive approach to disclosure is needed to restore confidence.

Audit Committee Focus: How Good is Your Audit Firm?
July 31, 2009 by Edward F. Smith
Audit quality as a concept is neither well defined nor well understood.

Banks Seek Accounting Change Delay
June 4, 2009 by Joseph McCafferty
The financial-services industry wants to delay an accounting rule that would force banks and others to bring some of their off-balance-sheet vehicles back into their books next year, which could force some companies to raise additional capital.

Banks Seek Accounting Change Delay
June 4, 2009 by Joseph McCafferty
The financial-services industry wants to delay an accounting rule that would force banks and others to bring some of their off-balance-sheet vehicles back into their books next year, which could force some companies to raise additional capital.

Fed: Increase Capital Before Repaying TARP
June 3, 2009
Even though some banks passed the Federal Reserve stress test one month ago, they may still be required to raise more capital before they repay TARP funding.

SEC May Expand Disclosure Rules
June 3, 2009 by Joseph McCafferty
The Securities and Exchange Commission plans to propose expanded rules regarding compensation disclosure to include employees outside the executive suite.

Private Equity Outlook: The Calm Before the Storm?
June 1, 2009 by Joseph McCafferty
By most measures, private equity has held up remarkably well during the economic downturn. But, it looks like it could be the calm before the storm for private equity. Thanks to the global credit crisis and deep worldwide recession, experts predict a shake-out, especially for the buyout segment of the private equity world.

Exposure to Deteriorating Assets Increases Risks to Private Equity
June 1, 2009 by Joseph McCafferty
This year is seeing an avalanche of corporate downgrades, and private equity investors are sharing some of the misery. In the year to date, downgrades have vastly outnumbered upgrades by almost 15 to 1. Private equity groups will continue to be drawn to higher-risk assets in search of better returns. The decline of asset valuations on the heels of the economic recession has hurt private equity investors to a certain extent. However, this may have also given sponsors a window of opportunity to further build up and diversify their portfolios.

North of the Border: Canada’s Divergent Experience
June 1, 2009
Thanks to the relatively better state of Canadian Banks, private equity activity in Canada has held up slightly better than it has in many other markets. Buyout activity, while well off highs reached in 2007, sputters along. Though buyouts may appear poised for a comeback, unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Canada’s venture capital industry, which has suffered immensely in the past year and has fared worse in comparison to the relative performance of VC in the United States.

Banks and Buyout Firms: An Uneasy Marriage
June 1, 2009 by Joseph McCafferty
When BankUnited went into Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) receivership on May 21, it didn’t take long for a group of new owners to step up to the plate. The Coral Gables, Florida savings and loan group was picked up by a consortium of private equity heavyweights—including W.L. Ross, Carlyle, and Blackstone. The $900 million price tag may have removed a significant burden off the shoulders of both the FDIC and the American taxpayer, but the ramifications of the PE-bank deal will prove a topic of contention for the many regulators caught in the mix.

Emulex Ups Battle for Broadcom, Files Suit
June 1, 2009
Emulex Corp. escalated its fight against a $764 million hostile takeover bid from Broadcom Corp., alleging in a lawsuit that Broadcom can't be trusted because the company hasn't fully disclosed details of widely publicized drug-related and stock-option-backdating charges involving its former chief executive.

Value Creation in Middle-Market Buyouts: A Transaction Level Analysis
June 1, 2009 by Joseph McCafferty
When BankUnited went into Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) receivership on May 21, it didn’t take long for a group of new owners to step up to the plate. The Coral Gables, Florida savings and loan group was picked up by a consortium of private equity heavyweights—including W.L. Ross, Carlyle, and Blackstone. The $900 million price tag may have removed a significant burden off the shoulders of both the FDIC and the American taxpayer, but the ramifications of the PE-bank deal will prove a topic of contention for the many regulators caught in the mix.

Audit Committee Focus: Critical Alignments
June 1, 2009 by Mary Pat McCarthy
Even in good times, maintaining critical alignments throughout the organization is a significant challenge.