MAS imposes S$12.6 million penalty on Noble Group over misleading financial statements

Joint investigations against both entities started in November 2018 and involved complicated accounting issues and also assistance from foreign regulators, stated the pr release.  

“It was discovered that NGL, via NRI, entered into long-term marketing agreements with mine owners plus coal producers to either assist these to build a brand name for their mines, or behave as a salesperson for the commodities produced from the particular mines, ” added the press release.  

Under these types of marketing agreements, NGL would not take delivery of the commodities created but would earn fees based on a pre-determined percentage from the counterparty’s sales worth.  

DOCUMENTED PROFITS, NET RESOURCES WERE INFLATED 

Joint investigations uncovered that NGL plus NRI applied wrong accounting treatment to marketing agreements by classifying them because financial instruments rather than service contracts, and by recognising future fees from these agreements just before rendering the services.

As a result, NGL and NRI’s reported income and net possessions were inflated.  

“NGL’s publication of materially deceptive financial statements from 2016 to 2018 (was) likely to have got induced the selling or purchase simply by investors of NGL’s securities listed on the Singapore Exchange, ” additional the press release.  

Commenting around the case, ACRA’s associate chief executive Kuldip Gill said: “Quality monetary information is crucial for any trusted and vibrant business environment in Singapore. ACRA expects financial  statements to reflect a true and fair view of the financial position and performance of the company since market participants depend on the financial statements to obtain an accurate image of the value the company generates, and the dangers involved.

“ACRA will continue to enforce accounting standards plus take those mixed up in financial reporting chain to task just for unreliable information and non-compliance with the prescribed accounting and auditing standards. ”

MAS’ assisting handling director (policy, obligations and financial crime) Loo Siew Yee said that false or even misleading statements simply by listed entities can erode investors’ rely upon the quality of information released by issuers, and also have an adverse impact on the particular integrity of our funds markets.

“The present action demonstrates that MAS takes breaches of disclosure obligations seriously and will take firm activity against persons discovered to have fallen short, ” said Ms Loo.  

In response to Wednesday’s mutual statement by the authorities, Noble Resources Investing Holdings’ executive chief Matt Hinds stated the company welcomed the final outcome of the investigation.  

Mr Hinds said in a pr release that Noble Resources Trading Holdings, a commodity trading business, has been under brand new ownership and management since Dec twenty, 2018, and is right now unrelated to Commendable Group.

The business has “focused on the highest standards of  corporate governance, confirming and transparency” because the separation.  

“We are looking ahead to continuing to do business with our suppliers  plus serve our customers, building on the solid start to 2022, ” said Mr Hinds.