Huntingdon Life Science's plea to auditors
Clinical research group boss tells auditors to stand up to activists and work with his company
Auditors and other key financial advisers have been told to stop treating
clinical research group Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) as ‘radioactive’ and have
the courage to work with the group which has faced intense pressure from
activists.
Brian Cass, the head of the group, which uses animals in testing, pleaded
with auditors, banks, insurers and other advisers to shrug off fears of
intimidation and work with the company.
Animal activists targeting HLS have also targeted auditors and advisers in an
effort to shut the research firm down.
Speaking to the FT, Cass said: ‘There is still a perception in the
financial community that we are radioactive. We don’t have any special
difficulties and it’s mostly business as usual for us, but the message of
success still hasn’t [reached] the hierarchy.’
Cass was speaking as a group of individuals faced trial for allegedly
conspiring to blackmail suppliers to HLS.
Cass said it should be possible to use company legislation to conceal the
identity of auditors working with the company in order to protect them, in the
same way that director addresses could be kept confidential.
Further reading:
Three-month delay for Huntingdon
accounts
Huntingdon audit saga ends in secrecy