AUDIT REGULATOR
AI seen more as an opportunity than risk: PwC's Sam Samaratunga
PwC India's risk business has seen rapid growth, with partner count set to exceed 100. Global trends like AI and climate change shape risk management strategies. Companies seek to understand and mitigate risks for long-term resilience. AI presents both opportunities and challenges for businesses.
Sebi issues new guidelines to streamline operations of credit rating agencies
Markets regulator Sebi has issued new guidelines to streamline operations and enhance the ease of doing business for credit rating agencies. The circular introduces specific timelines for dealing with appeals made by companies regarding rating actions carried out during periodic surveillance of ratings.
EU banks likely to seek more time for CCIL trade cut-off
Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, and Societe Generale request a six-month extension from BaFIN and AMF for the October 2024 CCIL trading deadline. This results from ESMA's de-recognition and pending Reserve Bank of India approval for a third-party clearing model proposed in recent ESMA meetings to resolve regulatory conflicts.
PwC names new China head amid regulatory scrutiny
PwC said in a statement to Reuters on Wednesday that Shanghai-based Li assumed the role of chairman of PwC China and Asia Pacific with effect from July 1, taking over from Raymund Chao who retired on June 30. The firm came under the Chinese regulatory spotlight earlier this year for its role as the auditor of troubled property company China Evergrande Group.
Q-comm audits; modest Q1 for IT firms
Happy Wednesday! Due to recent hygiene lapses by quick commerce, the government has intensified surprise inspections of their warehouses. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
IPO rush amid market rally boosts demand for independent directors
Amid IPO frenzy, companies race to appoint independent directors with specific skill sets crucial for growth. Women lead key committees, while former bureaucrats remain sought after. The process overlooks competencies, favoring recommendations from bankers and auditors. Specialized firms aid in identifying professionals for board roles, ensuring compliance with listing regulations.
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Explained: Expense ratio in mutual funds and how your money is spent
In other words, it is the per-unit cost of running and managing the mutual fund. The expense ratio differs from fund house to fund house. The expense ratio is calculated as a percentage of daily investment value.
Sebi penalises Kwality's former MD, others for misrepresenting company's financials
Fine totalling Rs 3.75 crore were slapped on former promoter and MD of dairy firm Kwality's Sanjay Dhingra and other entities for misrepresenting the financials of the company. Kwality went into insolvency process in December 2018 and was acquired by Sarda Mines through the liquidation process in 2022.
Risk-based audits of drug units to begin from July 1
The revised Schedule M, which is considered more stringent than the World Health Organization's (WHO) good manufacturing practices (GMP) in certain areas, was notified on December 28, 2023. Companies with turnover of over ₹250 crore will have to comply with the upgraded version of Schedule M, starting July 1, and the remaining others, which are largely micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), have been given a year's time to comply. Inspections on those firms will begin from January 1, 2025.
Infosys CEO Parekh settles insider trading charges
Salil Parekh, CEO of IT major Infosys, has settled a matter related to alleged insider trading violation by agreeing to pay Rs 25 lakh, said the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).
Sebi mulls relaxing some disclosure norms for listed firms
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is also evaluating giving listed companies more time to publicly disclose litigations or disputes that they are involved in, it said in a consultation paper published on Wednesday.
First NFRA annual report on eight audit firms by November
The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) is set to conduct its first annual inspection of eight audit firms, including the Big Five, to reveal its findings by October or November. The inspection will focus on auditors' processes and standards, revealing how NFRA plans to strengthen the country's audit and accounting ecosystem to combat corporate frauds and uphold shareholders' interests in a rapidly growing economy.
RBI's special audit over, IIFL Finance appoints team to implement corrective actions
IIFL Finance, under scrutiny by the RBI for irregularities in its gold loan portfolio, has taken corrective actions to address concerns. RBI directed the company to halt new gold loans due to supervisory concerns and deviations in gold assessment. The company raised capital through rights issues and NCDs to mitigate risks and reported a net profit in Q4.
Sebi asks Religare to file Burmans’ open offer plan
Sebi directs Religare to apply with open offer proposal by Burman family to purchase additional 26% stake from public shareholders.
Trans-Europe express: How Indian businesses can sustain and grow in Europe
India's recent free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association presents significant trade opportunities with the EU. However, Indian businesses must comply with new EU supply chain laws to sustain and grow in Europe. Key legislative changes include deforestation regulation, corporate sustainability and due diligence directive, and forced labor regulation.
Audit panels of companies can’t escape blame by citing auditors’ failure: NFRA chief
NFRA chairman Ajay Bhushan Pandey emphasized the audit committee's responsibility in ensuring accurate financial statements, even if auditors fail in their duty. He highlighted the need for meaningful communication between audit committees and auditors, stating that it should not be a mere formality. Pandey's remarks come as the NFRA plans to engage with large listed companies to promote accounting standards and curb corporate frauds. This regulatory outreach is part of efforts to protect retail stock investors, a focus highlighted by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
RBI going Hi-tech in regulation, risk management
The Reserve Bank of India is on a drive to raise the use of technology in key areas like supervision and risk management but flagged the downside risks and how widespread the challenges could be in the adoption of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
Resolution plan at implementation stage; FY24 results delayed: Jet Airways
Jet Airways delays financial results declaration for March 2024, NCLT-approved resolution plan yet to be implemented, meeting to be convened shortly.
Boeing set to deliver plan to regulators on upgrading safety
A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board published in February found that four bolts securing the panel that blew off were missing. "Boeing must commit to real and profound improvements," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said on February 28.
Some Indian ARCs are circumventing rules, says RBI's Swaminathan
RBI Deputy Governor Swaminathan J. disclosed in a recent speech that some Indian Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) have been skirting regulations, aiding in the "evergreening" of distressed assets. The RBI has ramped up supervision to curb systemic risks and ensure compliance. Swaminathan urged ARC boards to prioritize assurance functions like risk management and internal audit to identify and mitigate risks effectively.
Four European Union banks seek RBI nod for clearing model
"There was a meeting last month between the heads of four European banks and top RBI officials. The banks have sought the RBI's approval on the proposed third-party model because there is no established rulebook for this kind of arrangement," a source aware of the developments said.
RBI tells money changers to avoid build-up of idle foreign currency balances
“Data of such sale and purchase should be maintained and made available for audit / inspection,” the RBI said. Central bank norms allow full fledged money changers to obtain their normal business requirements of foreign currency notes from other full fledged money changers and authorised dealers in India.
NFRA to engage with some big listed companies on audit compliance
The regulatory outreach could involve the NFRA's engagement with audit panels, independent directors, chief financial officers and others on the boards of these companies, said one of the persons. The regulator is close to finalising a framework to hold such huddles and may invite listed companies, where large public interest is involved, for such meetings, according to another person.
NFRA imposes Rs 2.5 crore fine on two auditors in Reliance Commercial Finance case
The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) has penalized two auditors with fines totaling Rs 2.5 crore for professional misconduct and auditing lapses in the Reliance Commercial Finance case for FY2018-19. It imposed a Rs 2 crore fine on Shridhar & Associates and Rs 50 lakh on Ajay Vastani, along with a 5-year ban on Vastani from undertaking audits. The penalties were issued following a report of suspected fraud and inadequate audit procedures by the auditors.
ICAI disciplinary panel overlooks stay to pass order against 2 partners of PwC arms
Despite a Delhi High Court stay, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has published orders penalizing two PwC affiliate partners. PwC had obtained a stay against ICAI's disciplinary action, challenging fines and membership removal. The institute's move to upload the order on its website has sparked a legal battle. This follows a similar dispute with EY affiliates. The Big Four firms are contesting ICAI's disciplinary actions, demanding an appellate tribunal be established first.
Mumbai Police arrests Bhavesh Bhinde from Udaipur in connection with hoarding collapse which claimed 16 lives
Mumbai police have arrested Bhavesh Bhinde, owner of Ego Media, in connection with an illegal hoarding collapse in Chheda Nagar that led to 16 deaths. Bhinde faces charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and is also embroiled in other legal issues, including allegations of rape. Despite his troubles, Bhinde has secured contracts from entities like the Indian Railways and BMC for billboards and banners, albeit amid allegations of flouting regulations. This incident has prompted Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to order a structural audit of all hoardings in Mumbai.
Religare moves HC over Sebi 'inaction'
Religare has asked the court to direct Sebi to conduct a forensic audit to unearth the facts behind the grievances raised by it and to submit to the court a detailed report on the actions taken by the capital markets regulator.
Big 4's dominance: Local companies call for level playing field
Indian auditing firms are pushing for fair competition with multinational counterparts, expressing concerns over the Big Four's increasing dominance and alleged manipulation of regulatory loopholes. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) recently investigated affiliates of EY, Deloitte, PwC, and KPMG, where the firms were able to obtain court stays against disciplinary actions by the ICAI disciplinary committee after years of scrutiny, according to local rivals.
ICAI charges 3 EY India affiliates with professional misconduct
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has found three EY India affiliate entities guilty of professional misconduct and reprimanded two partners for breaches of the Chartered Accountants Act. The entities were charged for their dealings with global EY network firms not regulated in India, including paying referral fees and using their names for publicity, which is against the guidelines of the Act. The order, issued on Thursday, is the first such action against a Big Four accounting firm in India.
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