Adani Group CFO Jugeshinder Singh has characterized several regulatory notices from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) as trivial, suggesting they lack substantial impact on the company's operations and financial health. The notices stem from an ongoing investigation into alleged regulatory violations by various Adani companies, sparked by a January 2023 report from Hindenburg Research. This report accused the conglomerate of improper use of tax havens and stock manipulation, claims which the Adani Group has firmly denied.
In recent filings, Adani Enterprises disclosed receiving two show-cause notices from Sebi during the first quarter of 2024. These notices pertain to non-compliance with certain listing agreements and disclosure requirements, specifically regarding transactions with third parties and the validity of peer review certificates of statutory auditors in previous financial years. Despite these allegations, the company has asserted that the notices do not have a material effect on its financial statements for FY24 and do not indicate significant non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Other Adani subsidiaries, including Adani Green Energy, Adani Power, Adani Total Gas, Adani Energy Solutions, Adani Wilmar, and Adani Ports, have also received similar notices from Sebi. These notices typically concern violations that might attract monetary penalties or restrictions on market activities, depending on the severity of the alleged infractions. Despite these developments, the Adani Group maintains that these issues are not significant enough to warrant major concern.
Shares of various Adani companies reacted differently to these notices, with some experiencing minor gains and others slight declines. Adani Green and Adani Energy shares rose by 0.9% and 0.7% respectively, while shares of other group companies fell between 0.1% and 2%.
The Adani Group continues to manage the fallout from the Hindenburg report by reviewing and addressing the transactions highlighted in the short-seller?s allegations through independent assessments. The management has reiterated its commitment to full compliance with regulatory requirements and transparency in its operations.
These regulatory challenges highlight the ongoing scrutiny faced by the Adani Group as it navigates complex compliance landscapes while continuing its ambitious expansion plans across various sectors.
