Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac shares tumble after conservatorship comments
Investing.com -- Shares of John Wood Group Plc (LON:WG) plunged 25% on Monday after the company said in a stock exchange filing that it had found accounting errors and financial oversight failures within its Projects business, delaying the release of its full-year results and triggering a likely trading suspension.
The independent review, conducted by Deloitte, found issues with financial reporting, including improper accounting treatments, deficiencies in monitoring project performance, and management pressure to maintain previous financial positions.
The company acknowledged that financial decisions were sometimes based on overly optimistic assessments or lacked supporting evidence, with some information being withheld from auditors.
The review concluded that these problems primarily affect the Projects division, with no material impact identified in other business units, including Consulting, Operations, and Investment Services.
While prior-year adjustments will be made, the company does not expect a major impact on past cash flow or future cash generation.
Due to the scale of corrections required and the ongoing audit process, Wood confirmed that its FY24 results will not be published by April 30.
Under regulatory rules, this will result in the suspension of the company’s shares from trading until the accounts are finalized.
Wood has begun making changes, including leadership adjustments in its finance function and improvements to accounting procedures.
Temporary retrospective waivers on debt covenants have been obtained until April 30, to address historical non-compliance.
The company is also in discussions with lenders regarding refinancing options and the timing of its financial disclosures.
Meanwhile, talks continue with Sidara, a unit of Dar Al-Handasah Consultants, over a potential takeover bid. Sidara has until April 17, to either make a formal offer or withdraw, though this deadline could be extended by mutual agreement.