Jet Airways, Spicejet face auditors' red flags over 'going concern' status

Auditors have raised questions over the carriers' ability to finance operations

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.