Media Releases
Major changes ahead for insurance accounting
KPMG welcomes today's release of proposals by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) for a new accounting model for insurance contracts. Arriving at common requirements would have a significant impact on the insurance industry considering the current diversity under IFRS in accounting practices in different geographies.
08/02/2010
Thomas Varain to take over as new Sector Coordinator for Insurance at KPMG Switzerland
KPMG Switzerland has appointed Thomas Varain to the post of Sector Coordinator for Insurance. Varain will be replacing Swen Wyssbrod who has decided to leave the firm after over five years, three of which as Sector Coordinator for Insurance.
07/16/2010
Stéphane Gard is the new Sector Coordinator for Consumer Goods & Retail at KPMG Switzerland
Stéphane Gard is to assume responsibility for the Consumer Goods & Retail Sector at KPMG Switzerland. He will replace Jürg Meisterhans, who in recent years has developed the sector into one of the most successful of KPMG's client segments but now wants to put all his energy into working with clients and into heading up the Partners' Committee of KPMG Switzerland.
06/09/2010
Research projects from the ETH Zurich and EPFL distinguished with KPMG´s Inspiration Grant
Two research projects, the Hybrid Pneumatic Engine from the ETH Zurich and Microfluidics from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), were chosen to receive KPMG's Inspiration Grants. Funded through sponsorship projects carried out by KPMG's employees, this targeted instrument for promoting innovation contributes CHF 100,000 in financial support per grant toward projects that will make a socially relevant contribution to benefit future generations.
06/04/2010
Roche, Novartis and Tamedia presented with KPMG's Swiss M&A Award
Three Swiss companies, Roche, Novartis and Tamedia, have been distinguished by KPMG for seizing the opportunity and making strategic acquisitions to strengthen their market position in a tough economic environment.
05/12/2010
Significant change to pension accounting under IASB proposals, says KPMG
KPMG commented today on the proposals published by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to revise the accounting for pensions and other long-term employee benefits under IFRS. The proposals would introduce significant change for most entities with defined benefit obligations, in particular those using the option to defer recognition of actuarial gains and losses. As almost all Swiss pension plans qualify as defined benefit plans under IFRS, the exposure draft is important to Swiss companies.
04/29/2010
Hans Jürg Steiner appointed head of KPMG Berne's office
KPMG has appointed Hans Jürg Steiner as the new head of the Berne office as of May 1, 2010. He will take over from Daniel Schaffner who has held a management position since 2004 and will be leaving the company after eight years.
04/29/2010
Yvan Mermod appointed head of KPMG's Geneva office
The management of the Geneva office of KPMG has today been taken over by Yvan Mermod, Partner in the Financial Services sector. Prior to his appointment, Yvan Mermod had held the position of head of the Investment Management services for French-speaking Switzerland.
03/15/2010
KPMG Switzerland's fourth edition of "KPMG's M&A Yearbook” clearly shows just how much the merger and acquisition business tumbled during 2009, both for inbound and outbound investments. 2010 is expected to bring a revival in the M&A business, due in part to general recovery in the economy as well as many companies' continued good access to cash.
02/09/2010
Fraudsters target investors and financial institutions
As shown in the KPMG Fraud Barometer, Swiss courts tried 57 major cases of white-collar crime last year involving losses in excess of CHF 1.5 billion. While this represents a 23% drop in the number of cases compared to the previous year, the total value of the cases brought to court rose sharply by 54%.
02/02/2010
Dieter Becker new Head of Advisory of KPMG Switzerland
On February 1, 2010, Dieter Becker will take over as Head of Advisory at KPMG Switzerland and become a member of the Executive Board. Becker, who is responsible for Consumer & Industrial Markets at KPMG Europe LLP, will be succeeding Dieter Widmer upon his decision to leave the company after 24 years and take a new career path. By appointing Philipp Hallauer, Head of Risk Management, and Lukas Marty, CFO, as members of the Executive Board, KPMG is further strengthening the company's management with regard to quality, risk management, compliance and financial issues.
02/01/2010
On the occasion of its 100th anniversary, KPMG will be awarding KPMG's Inspiration Grants to research projects in the areas of health and the environment over the next two years. To qualify for support, projects must be scientific in nature, have entrepreneurial potential and also make a relevant contribution to the benefit of future generations. The idea is for researchers to receive this financial support at an early stage to help ensure that the next step of their projects is a success. The projects to be funded will be selected in cooperation with the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology in Zurich and Lausanne.
01/11/2010