Stock exchanges BSE and NSE are likely to initiate audit on 100 out of 331 suspected shell companies in the first batch in coordination with SEBI, sources told ET Now. 

A panel of auditors will soon be appointed for first stage of audit of select 100 companies, sources said. 

All except a handful of 331 suspected companies are either non-operational or already barred from trading on exchanges. 

Sources said that freezing of promoters’ shares is being considered till probe concludes. Trading data of all suspect shell companies being examined by bourses. 

Out of total 331 firms, 162 are listed on BSE. Data available for 154 of these firms show one-third of them, or 50 to be precise, have been reporting losses for four consecutive years now. Over two dozens of them reported zero sales for last financial year. Yet, retail and high net worth individuals hold up to 95 per cent stake in these companies.

Since banks hold margins on behalf of stock exchanges, there are fears that some of the banks, already burdened by a huge pile of bad loans, may see some addition because these 331 stocks have now diminished in value. A part of the funding is also done by the NBFCs which are not reported to investors on Dalal Street, making the market vulnerable to sudden selling of these stocks, TOI reported. #casansaar (Source - ET Now, TOI, Economic Times)