Andersen split ruling delayed
The arbitration ruling on the split of Arthur Andersen and Andersen Consulting has been put back until 31 July.
Lawyers for both parties have been informed Colombian arbitrator Dr Guillermo Gamba has extended his deadline for releasing his findings from the end of June.The delay is the first Harvard University professor Dr Gamba has instructed since it began in December 1997, but both parties involved said they did not expect further delays.
An Arthur Andersen spokesman said: ‘This is a complex and wide-ranging issue and has gone on for two and a half years, so another few weeks is not that long to wait.’
A Consulting spokesman added that it was likely the arbitrator would unveil further details of the split before the end of July.
The delay is in stark contrast to the position last month when a decision had seemed likely after Consulting chief-executive Joe Forehand said he was prepared to enter round-table discussions with Arthur Andersen. That route was not explored.