EY added $700 million in extra debt for failed spinoff costs: Report

Borrowing at the accounting firm more than tripled from a year earlier to $983 million as of June 30, 2023, as it expanded an existing floating credit rate facility and took out a new one

By Irina Anghel and Christine Burke

EY took on about $700 million in extra borrowing to deal with costs related to its failed plan to spin off its consulting unit.

Current loans at EYGS LLP — the entity that provides services to the network’s member firms — more than tripled from a year earlier to $983 million as of June 30, 2023, according to accounts filed with the UK’s Companies House. The firm expanded an existing credit facility and also entered into a new one during the period. 
 

The extra debt will help spread the costs incurred by the firm’s examination of a split of its accounting and consulting arms. Codenamed Project Everest, it collapsed in April after partners squabbled over key issues like how to divide the tax practice. 
 

EY recently tapped Janet Truncale to take over as its next chief executive officer after the scrapping of its intended breakup. She will succeed Carmine Di Sibio, who designed the Everest plan, at a time when a slowing economy is hitting the Big Four firms. 

Read More: Big Four Reshape Consulting Workforce, Strategy With Rare Layoffs
 

“It is common for a $50bn global organization such as EY to maintain a modest financing facility on our balance sheet,” the company said in a statement. “The costs incurred during Project Everest will be almost entirely paid down by July 1, 2024. There is no change to this position.” 
 

EY’s global operating business earned $6.4 billion in fees from national member firms in 2023, up 20% from the previous year. At the same time, its operating expenses rose to $6.3 billion, up from $5.3 billion in 2022.
 

The borrowing was first reported by the FT.