Standout Stories
Making sales forecasts more accurate… Companies miss quarterly numbers. Deals slipped, conversion rates sank, or there just wasn’t enough volume.
This happens despite sales teams spending lots of time on the forecasting process. According to SiriusDecisions, reps spend on average 2.5 hours per week and managers 1.5 hours on forecasting. Yet, nearly 80% of sales organizations don’t forecast within 10% of where they eventually land. They often don’t anticipate missing targets or realize too late in the quarter to take action. Read article.
—-
Pension plans… In the bipartisan federal budget bill signed into law last November, Congress acted for the third time in four years to give corporate pension plan sponsors relief from funding requirements for underfunded plans.
In the same bill, Congress authorized a sharp increase in the premiums that plan sponsors — especially the vast majority whose plans are underfunded — must pay to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. Read article.
Headlines
Foxconn to Acquire Japan’s Sharp for $3.5B
The Taiwanese firm uses Sharp screens in the iPhones it manufactures, and the deal could increase its leverage with Apple.
Rating Agencies Cut Outlook on China’s Credit
‘Economic and financial risks to the Chinese government’s creditworthiness are gradually increasing,’ says S&P.
How to Boost Sales Forecast Accuracy
Here’s a methodology for finding out that you’re going to miss your number early enough to do something about it.
Weighty New Conundrum for Pension Plan Sponsors
With PBGC premiums soaring, sponsors face more pressure to fund up their plans. General Motors’ response: do it with debt-issuance proceeds.
Employees Playing Fast and Loose with Passwords
A survey by SailPoint found that many would sell a password to an outsider for less than $1,000.
Biotech Investor Accused of Stealing $18M
A controller and chief legal officer also played ‘integral roles’ in the scheme, says the SEC.
GE Capital Says It’s Not ‘Too Big To Fail’
The GE unit says it has completed 80% of its asset reductions and exited consumer lending.
U.S. Layoffs Fall for Second Straight Month
But March headcount reductions were still nearly 32% higher than one year ago.
CFOs on the Move: Week Ending April 1
Tribune Publishing, Molson Coors, Las Vegas Sands, Raycom Media, Huttig Building, Medivation, Career Education, Science Applications, HCP, Lantheus
Traditional Bank Loans Still Top Funding Options
Small and midsize businesses most often sought money for cash flow management and new equipment.
IT Should Drive Decision Making, Not Just Participate
Don’t just align IT with your organization’s business mission. Operate IT as a business in all respects.
New York Strikes Deal to Raise Minimum Wage
The increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour will be phased in gradually across the state, with the target being reached by 2021 for some workers.
Regulator Bars Valeant Officers From Trading
A Canadian regulator issues a cease trade order after the troubled drug maker announces it would be late filing financial reports.
Navistar Fined $7.5M Over Engine Disclosures
The SEC says the company misled investors about its efforts to show compliance with emission standards.
March Jobs report Shows ‘Best-Case Scenario’
While nonfarm payrolls rose by 215,000 last month, the gain was likely not strong enough to ignite inflation fears.