All section Close
Image Credit: The Economic Times
ICICI Bank Confirms $100 Mn Exposure To Troubled Singapore Oil Trader That Hid $800 Mn Losses
India, 21 April 2020 12:52 PM GMT | Updated 21 April 2020 12:57 PM GMT
Editor : Shweta Kothari
A broadcast turned digital journalist, Shweta Kothari heads the newsroom at The Logical Indian. She has previously worked with CNBC and NewsX as a news anchor and senior correspondent. Shweta holds a masters degree in journalism from the university of Sussex, UK and started her career with work placement with BBC in Scotland.
The slump of the oil trading company comes at a time when oil prices have plunged to a multi-year low due to the steep fall in demand and increasing supplies amid the COVID-19 crisis.
ICICI Bank could record a rise in its non-performing assets with troubled Singapore-based oil trading major Hin Leong Trading which is filing for bankruptcy, The Economic Times reported.
According to the oil trading company's filing, ICICI Bank has an exposure worth $100 million, out of its total dues of $3.64 billion to lenders. Out of its total exposure to Hin Leong Trading, $75 million is secured over inventory.
"We confirm that the bank, in the normal course of its business, has exposure to the borrower group in question, is taking due steps to protect its interests, and will appropriately reflect the same in its financial statements, as it would do in respect of all its banking exposures," the bank confirmed.
The major lenders to the company include HSBC, ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and DBS Bank, with an exposure of $598 million, $299 million and $288 million respectively.
ICICI Bank's net non-performing assets (NPA) stood at ₹10,388.50 crore and the gross NPA was ₹43,453.86 crore as of the quarter ending December 2019.
The slump of the oil trading company comes at a time when oil prices have plunged to a multi-year low due to the steep fall in demand and increasing supplies amid the COVID-19 crisis.
This creates a problem for the bank even if it is willing to recover 75% of its dues that is secured over oil inventory.
The WTI prices have fallen over 37% in one day to $11 a barrel and Brent fairs a little better at around $26 a barrel. In such a situation, it would be dangerous to incur any huge inventory losses for the stock holder.
The founder and director of the company had ordered the firm not to reveal losses of $800 million over years. The founder had admitted to this in a court filing.
Following the reports of non-disclosure of losses, shares of ICICI Bank plummeted. On the BSE, the bank's shares closed at ₹361.50 per share, down by ₹14.45 or 3.84% from its earlier close.
Also Read: Chennai: Mob Protests Burial Of Doctor Who Died Of COVID-19, Attack Ambulance, Injures Staff
Must Reads
We are an independent and public-spirited digital media platform for Indian millennials. We report news and issues that matter as well as give you the opportunity to take action.
