Airlines Run into Audit Red-flags Over 'Going Concern' Status
Amid continuing difficulties in airline space to generate profits and raise funds, independent auditors of at least two Indian carriers have raised red-flags over their 'going concern' status claims.
Typically, a company is known as a 'going concern' if it has sufficient resources to continue to operate indefinitely and to avoid any potential bankruptcy risks.
While auditors of now-grounded Kingfisher Airlines have been raising red flags for a long time, auditors of low-cost carrier SpiceJet have pointed out in their latest quarterly review report the airline's total liabilities exceeded its total assets by Rs. 1,145.58 crore as on June 30, 2014.
"These conditions, along with other matters...indicate the existence of a material uncertainty that may cast doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern," SpiceJet's auditor SR Batliboi and Associates LLP said.
No provision has been made for interest of Rs. 7.5 crore up to June 30, 2014, relating to earlier years on the outstanding inter-corporate deposits taken by Spicejet.
If these amounts had been accounted for, SpiceJet's first quarter net loss, as also accumulated losses, would have been higher, the auditor noted. SpiceJet reported a net loss of Rs. 124.10 crore for the April-June 2014 quarter, as against a net profit of Rs. 50.56 crore in the year-ago period.
Jet Airways' auditors said in their latest report for the quarter ended June 30, 2014 that the company's continuance as a "going concern" depends on deeper synergies with Etihad Airways and its ability to raise funds in the future.
Kingfisher is yet to publish its financial results and the auditor report for the latest quarter ended June 30, 2014.
The auditors of all three listed airlines have been saying for last few quarters that the "appropriateness of the going concern basis" is dependent on their ability to generate adequate finance to meet obligations and to operate profitably.
However, the management of all three carriers have defended their decisions to prepare their respective financial statements on 'going concern' basis.
Kingfisher has faced most adverse auditor comments, while auditors for Naresh Goyal-led Jet Airways and Maran family-run Sun Group's Spicejet have also been commenting on their 'going concern' status.
With regard to Jet Airways' 'management statement' about alliance with Etihad and the subsequent positive impact on cash flows, its auditors said that this has been taken into account by the company for preparation of the financial statement on a going concern basis. (PTI - NDTV)
Category : Auditing | Comments : 0 | Hits : 640
Get Free Daily Updates Via e-Mail on Income Tax, Service tax, Excise and Corporate law
- Income Tax Dept serves notices to salaried individuals for documentary proof to claim exemptions
- Bank Branch Audit 2021 - Update on allotment of Branches
- Bank Branch Audit 2020 Updates
- Bank Branch Audit 2021 Updates
- Bank Branch Audit 2020 - Update on Allotment of Branches
- Police Atrocities towards CA in Faridabad - Its Time to be Unite
- Bank Branch Statutory Audit Updates 2019
- Bank Branch Statutory Audit Updates
- Bank Branch Audit 2022 Updates
- Bank Branch Statutory Audit Updates
- NFRA Imposes Monetary penalty of Rs 1 Crore on M/s Dhiraj & Dheeraj
- ICAI notifies earlier announced CA exam dates despite pending legal challenge before SC
- NFRA debars Auditors, imposes Rs 50 lakh penalties for lapses in Brightcom, CMIL cases
- GST Important Update - Enhancement in the GST Portal
- NFRA Slaps Rs 5 lakh Penalty on Audit Firm for lapses in Vikas WSP Audit Case
- CBDT extends due date for filing Form 10A/10AB upto 30th June, 2024
- RBI comes out with FEMA regulations for direct listing on international exchange
- RBI directs payment firms to track high-value, fishy transactions during elections
- NCLT orders insolvency proceedings against Subhash Chandra
- Income Tax dept starts drive to dispose of appeals, 0.54 million at last count
- Payment of MCA fees –electronic mode-regarding
- Budget '11-12' Parliament Completes Approval Exercise
- Satyam restrained from operating its accounts
- ICICI a foreign firm, subject to FDI norms: Govt
- Maha expects Rs 15 crore entertainment tax revenue from IPL
- CAG blames PMO for not acting against Kalmadi
- No service tax on visa facilitators: CBEC
- Provision of 15-minutes reading and planning time allowance to the candidates of Chartered Accountants Examinations
- Companies Bill to be taken up in Monsoon Session
- File Service Tax Return in time as Maximum Penalty increased 10 times to Rs. 20000

Comments