ENRONS COLLAPSE COULD FORCE ANDERSEN TO MERGE

Odds are good and getting better that Andersen will merge with another Big Five firm once the dust settles from the collapse of Enron CN has learned from interviews with former senior executives the firms outside advisors and industry analysts.
The likeliest merger partners are KPMG and Ernst & Young both of which would require Andersen to spin off its consulting practice because of non-compete agreements signed when both firms divested their consulting arms.
Andersen the worlds 10th largest consulting firm is tied to an audit practice that is being put on trial ・first in the court of public opinion then as part of a Congressional hearing and SEC investigation and soon the courtroom.
The firms outside advisors have pushed hard for a Big Five merger since Andersen Consulting won its arbitration divorce in August 2000. The latest events should encourage Andersen to more seriously consider merging ・says Dean McMann CEO of Ransford a consultant to consulting firms including Andersen.
Despite repeated attempts by CN Andersen did not return calls seeking comment on this story.

2002年 7月29日
参照Consultants News