The COVID-19 pandemic has had wide-ranging impacts on public company disclosures over the last year. In particular, the pervasive and ongoing uncertainty affecting the global economy contributes to increased subjectivity underlying assumptions and increased challenges in determining estimates for certain … Continue reading
Author Archives: Nicole Hallas
Pledged Securities in SPACs Pose Double Risk
Pledging securities, when a beneficial owner pledges their company shares as collateral, poses significant risks to corporate governance and share price. This risk is heightened when securities related to a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) investment are pledged, due to … Continue reading
Risk of Pledged Securities for Public Companies
Pledged securities – shares of a public company that are pledged by their owner as collateral – present a potentially serious risk to a company’s governance and share price. When a major owner of a company pledges their shares, it exposes the company … Continue reading
Remediating Internal Control Weaknesses During Pandemic
As 2020 comes to a close, many public companies are gearing up for fiscal year ends and preparing annual financial statements. Particularly important this year is determining how to disclose pertinent information about COVID-19 in annual reports. Given the widespread disruption on regular operations, a disclosure of … Continue reading
Auditor Changes Roundup: Q3 2020
Cohen & Company, Grant Thornton, and Marcum, each with a net of three new SEC audit clients, account for the most SEC audit clients gained among all firms in Q3 2020. As mentioned in Accounting Today, EY had the most … Continue reading
COVID-19 Lawsuits Continue to Pose Ongoing Risk
As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on and 2020 nears its end, one thing is abundantly clear: the vast, unprecedented impacts of the pandemic are going to be a part of the conversation moving forward. This conversation will be perpetuated by … Continue reading
COVID-19 Litigation Continues To Be Filed by Consumers and Employees
Since the start of the pandemic, Audit Analytics has identified over 120 instances of COVID-19 litigation. These include lawsuits that are filed directly referencing circumstances that would not otherwise exist outside of the coronavirus pandemic. There are a wide array … Continue reading