Indian regulator finds Adani offshore investors in disclosure rules violation: Report

SEBI finds offshore funds violating disclosure rules and investment limits in Adani Group, some opt for penalty settlement.

India's markets regulator found a dozen offshore funds invested in Adani Group companies were in violation of disclosure rules and in breach of investment limits, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said on April 22. They declined to be named as they not authorised to speak to media.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Adani Group did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.

Reuters had first reported that the SEBI uncovered the violation of rules on disclosures by listed entities and limits on the holdings of offshore funds in August last year.

The regulator was also looking into Adani Group's ties with one of the funds to determine whether it could be seen acting "in concert" with the conglomerate's key shareholders, an accusation Adani has rejected in the past.

The regulator sent notices to a dozen Adani Group's offshore investors outlining the charges earlier this year and asking them to explain their positions on the disclosure violations and breach of investment limits, the sources said. "The offshore funds were reporting their investment in Adani Group companies at individual fund level. Regulator wanted the disclosure of holding at offshore fund group level," said the first of the two sources.

Eight of these offshore funds have approached the regulator via written request to settle the charges by paying a penalty without admission of guilt, the sources added.