News

In a major review of the UK audit sector, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has identified glaring deficiencies in how the sector is assessing firms’ finances and governance, leaving the door open to more costly Carillion-style business collapses.

Almost two in five (37%) of people who are close to retirement have accelerated retirement due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report released by Standard Life Aberdeen (SLA).

The number of commercial rent disputes between occupiers and landlords in Scotland referred to a third party for determination halved in the 12 months to the end of February 2021, according to new analysis from Knight Frank. The independent commercial property consultancy obtained figures from the R

UK businesses have avoided using litigation to resolve commercial disputes during the COVID-19 pandemic, instead turning to negotiation and mediation, according to new research by EY. The research suggests that UK companies have heeded official guidance, released by the Cabinet Office in May 2020, w

Rupert Thompson, chief investment officer at wealth management group Kingswood, discusses rebounding global economies and the resumption of value. Equities continued their strong run last week with global markets gaining a further 0.8% to be up 10.7% since the start of the year. The US reporting sea

Addleshaw Goddard has promoted legal director Jan Gruter to the role of partner. Me Gruter joined the firm in 2018 as legal director, and has acted on behalf of a range of asset and fund management clients, especially private equity, real estate and infrastructure fund managers. In his role as legal

Fraser Kane looks at the shape of things to come for non-transferable debt securities. On 19 April 2021, the Treasury launched an open consultation concerning the future regulation of the issuance of non-transferable debt securities (NTDS), also commonly known as “mini-bonds” in the

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed a significant easing of lockdown restrictions in Scotland from Monday, however, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned that recovery was far from assured for many local firms.

NatWest Group has become one of 43 banks globally to join the Net Zero Banking Alliance, a coalition of financial services companies that have pledged to work together to help deliver the Paris Agreement. As the banking sponsor of the COP26 climate summit, NatWest Group’s membership of this gl

Total sales in Scotland decreased by 13.8% on a 2-year basis compared with March 2019, according to the latest Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) & KPMG Scottish Retail Sales Monitor.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has issued an Exposure Draft that proposes to extend the application period of requirements that cover the accounting treatment of temporary rent concessions occurring as a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic by one year. FRED 78 proposes that requiremen

Scotland’s onshore GDP grew by 0.9% in February, according to statistics announced today by Scotland's Chief Statistician.

A celebrity psychic who said he lost his powers after a car accident is facing a £100,000 legal bill after a judge ruled he had been "fundamentally dishonest" in his claim for compensation.

New legislation coming into force from 30th April for prepack administrations is set to impose a new 8-week window in which the assets of an insolvent business cannot be sold to a connected party without the consent of creditors, or a report from an independent evaluator recommending that the prepac

Specialist wealth and asset management firm Mattioli Woods has acquired Caledonia Asset Management. Mattioli Woods is acquiring the Edinburgh-based firm from its shareholders for an initial £960,000 and potential further consideration of up to £640,000 dependent on meeting performance ta