All Insights

Denmark has made some fantastic television dramas over the past few years. ‘The Killing’ and ‘Borgen’ have been compulsive viewing in the Lagerberg household. Both place intelligent, strident women as the main characters and, in the case of political drama, Borgen, imitate life itself by prophetically telling the tale of a female Prime Minister – Helle Thorning-Schmidt becoming the first Prime Minister of Denmark in 2011.

Just one in seven delegates at the annual World Economic Forum gathering was a woman this year. This statistic alone explains why the issue of women in businesses inspires so much passion and debate, emphasising that the path from the classroom to the boardroom is anything but straightforward.

I am currently at MIPIM, the annual gathering of property professionals from around the world, and can report that the mood is much improved from this time last year. Developers, property companies, investors and homeowners suffered disproportionately during the financial crisis.

24%: that is the proportion of women holding the most senior roles in businesses across the globe.

The financial crisis was devastating for the hotel industry as consumers and businesses pulled back on discretionary spending. However, the report we released this week ‘Hotel Investment 2014 – Finance on a different level‘ reveals that the impact of the crisis was not all bad – certainly in terms of placing the hotel financing environment on a more balanced and sustainable footing.

Grant Thornton International Ltd has commented on the IASB Exposure Draft 'Proposed amendments to the IFRS for SMEs'.

This publication summarises the overall objectives and requirements of IAS 36, provides a step-by-step guide to performing an impairment assessment (including recording or reversing an impairment when necessary) and offers insights on best practices to address interpretative and practical application issues.

This publication guides management through the top 20 disclosure and accounting issues identified by Grant Thornton as potential challenges for IFRS preparers.

Wherever I go in the world, I’d rather be walking a dog than stroking a cat. Some things are the same wherever you are. But does this include business leaders? Working with senior business people across the globe, I’ve found they do share a lot of traits – valuing integrity, a positive attitude and the ability to communicate – even across wide cultural divides.

Grant Thornton International Ltd has commented on the IASB Exposure Draft 'Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2012-2014 Cycle'.

The role of leaders in creating successful businesses and driving growth is crucial. How these leaders run their teams and make decisions can be the difference between success and failure. But do the leadership characteristics displayed by leaders vary from region to region?

I read a fascinating article in the Wall Street Journal the other day which suggested that my region could broadly be thought of as two separate entities.

The technology industry is synonymous with innovation, fuelled by investments and a continual focus on research and development (R&D). By its very nature it is at the forefront of change. Those businesses which fail to keep up with technological change and stay current with consumer requirements are left behind.

As more and more goods and services are crossing national borders than ever before, and with indirect taxes being adopted by a growing number of tax authorities, international businesses are facing tax issues in many overseas countries - including the possibility of having to account for tax in the country where their customer is located.

More and more fiscal authorities continue to develop their transfer pricing laws. The principles are common, although interpretations differ from one tax authority to another.

Grant Thornton International Ltd has commented on the IASB Exposure Draft 'Equity Method in Separate Financial Statements - Proposed amendments to IAS 27'.