NEW DELHI/NEW YORK, Feb 14 (Reuters) – India’s Adani Group has appointed accountancy agency Grant Thornton for impartial audits of a few of its firms in a bid to discredit claims by short-seller Hindenburg Analysis which have battered its shares and bonds, two individuals acquainted with the matter mentioned on Monday.
The appointment marks the primary main effort by Adani Group to defend itself within the wake of a Jan. 24 report by Hindenburg that accused it of improper use of offshore tax havens and inventory manipulation.
The conglomerate, led by billionaire Gautam Adani, has strongly denied the allegations however buyers stay involved. Shares within the group’s seven listed subsidiaries have cumulatively misplaced about $120 billion in market worth within the final three weeks.
Adani Group mentioned final week it was contemplating impartial analysis of points regarding authorized compliance, associated social gathering transactions and inside controls following the Hindenburg report. The appointment of Grant Thornton is reported right here for the primary time.
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Grant Thornton has been employed to conduct impartial audits of some Adani Group firms, mentioned the sources, declining to be named because the appointment is confidential.
One of many sources added that Grant Thornton would take a look at whether or not related-party transactions on the Adani Group complied with company governance requirements.
Grant Thornton and Adani Group didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Adani Group sought to reassure buyers on Monday, saying it had sturdy cashflows, its enterprise plans have been absolutely funded and that it was “assured within the continued capacity of our portfolio to ship superior returns to shareholders.”
However regulatory strain has been growing. India’s market regulator confirmed on Monday it was investigating the report by Hindenburg, in addition to market exercise instantly earlier than and after the report was revealed.
The U.S. short-seller’s report mentioned it had recognized quite a few “undisclosed associated social gathering transactions” by each listed and personal Adani firms, alleging it was in violation of Indian disclosure legal guidelines.
In its rebuttal, Adani had mentioned “all associated social gathering transactions are at arm’s size, correctly disclosed and reviewed/audited by statutory impartial auditors.”
Reporting by Aditya Kalra in New Delhi and Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Modifying by Richard Chang
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