A. F. Ferguson & Co.
A.F. Ferguson & Co. was a British Indian accounting firm founded in 1893. Today it is based in Pakistan.[1]
 | |
| Type | Accountancy network |
|---|---|
| Industry | Professional services |
| Founded | 1893 |
| Founder | Alexander Fletcher Ferguson |
| Successor | A. F. Ferguson & Co. (Pakistan) Ferguson Maidment & Co. (UK) A. F. Ferguson & Co. (India) Hoda Vasi Chowdhury & Co. (Bangladesh) |
| Headquarters | Bombay, Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, London, Dhaka, Kabul |
Area served | British India (1893-1947) UK (1912-present) Pakistan (1952-present) India (1952–2004) Bangladesh (1963–1972) |
| Products | Accounting Tax Business consulting |
History
The origins of the firm go back to 1893. Alexander Fletcher Ferguson (A. F. Ferguson), a chartered accountant from Scotland, came to Bombay in 1889 as chief accountant for the merchant firm Ritchie Stewart & Co., (later Forbes Forbes Campbell & Co. (Private) Limited). In 1893, he began his practice and was the first British chartered accountant to do so in this part of the world. P. G. Irvine, previously an assistant, became a partner in 1898 and the name of the firm was changed to Ferguson & Irvine. In 1902, owing to the ill-health of Irvine, the partnership was dissolved and the firm became A. F. Ferguson & Co., with A. F. Ferguson and W. Turner Green as partners. The firm prospered in Bombay and the Karachi office was opened on 20 March 1908. The Lahore office opened in 1926.
After the partition of India, the Pakistani practice was split off from the firm in 1952. The Pakistani section took over the Karachi and Lahore branches. The Indian branch continued to practice in India under the same name.
In 2012, Omar Zakhilwal, then-finance minister of Afghanistan, accused A.F. Ferguson & Co. of massive fraud involving approximately $900 million.[2]
Successor firms
Pakistan
The present company situated in Pakistan is the main successor of the previous A. F. Ferguson & Co. in British India. It is the oldest and one of the largest professional accounting firms in Pakistan. A.F. Ferguson & Co. operates under PricewaterhouseCoopers and is also known internationally as PricewaterhouseCoopers Pakistan (PwC Pakistan). This firm also has an office in Kabul, Afghanistan.[3]
United Kingdom
In 1912, Alexander Fletcher Ferguson left India and opened a branch in London. The London office adopted the name Ferguson, Gilchrist & Co in 1925. This branch was known as Ferguson, Rowland & Davis from 1954. In 1981, the firm merged with Maidment & Co and its name was changed to Ferguson Maidment & Co.
India
A.F. Ferguson & Co., which was the oldest accounting firm in India, joined Deloitte in 2004.[4] Mukund Dharmadhikari, senior partner of the firm, became joint managing partner of Deloitte Haskins & Sells India.
Bangladesh
In 1963, a new office was opened in Dhaka, capital of East Pakistan. After the independence of Bangladesh, this branch was split and renamed Hoda Vasi Chowdhury & Co.[5]
References
- "A F Ferguson celebrates 125 years of business". The News. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
- "PwC accused over $900m Afghan bank scandal". Independent. 11 May 2012. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
- Asad Kharal (8 November 2018). "A.F. Ferguson may face criminal charges in Maersk sales tax mega scandal". Customs Today. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
- "Its Official: Ferguson To Merge With Deloitte". The Financial Express. 17 August 2004. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- "21st death anniversary of late Kazi Kamrul Hoda, FCA". icab.org.bd. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2021.