Kingfisher Airlines auditors hint at hidden losses in Vijay Mallya's co

Auditors of debt-ridden Kingfisher Airlines today said that the carrier's third-quarter (Q3) net loss would have been much higher at Rs 1,090 crore, had it followed "generally accepted accounting standards" in realisation of aircraft-related costs, taxation and loans.

For the third quarter ended December 31, 2012, Kingfisher today reported a net loss of Rs 755.17 crore -- a sharp increase of 70 per cent from Rs 444.26 crore in the year-ago quarter.

The grounded airline did not report any revenue for the quarter, as against Rs 1,367.71 crore in the third quarter of previous fiscal.

Kingfisher Airlines, part of liquor baron Vijay Mallya-led UB Group, had last posted a quarterly profit in October-December period of 2006 (Rs 9.6 crore), while it has never posted a profit on full-year basis.

In their 'limited review report' for its third quarter results, the auditors said the losses would have been Rs 1,090.34 crore had the company used generally accepted accounting standards.

The auditors, B K Ramadhyani & Co, said in its report that the accounting method used by the airline to calculate costs incurred for maintenance and repairs of aircraft was "not in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards prevalent in India."

Besides, the company's reserves as on March 31, 2012, would have been a debit of Rs 1,046 crore as against the reported figure of debit of Rs 6,213.14 crore, auditors said.

They have also drawn attention to Kingfisher's financial statements being prepared on a 'going concern' basis, notwithstanding the fact that the company's net worth is eroded.

"The appropriateness of the said basis is inter-alia dependent on the company's ability to obtain renewal of the scheduled air operator's permit by the DGCA, infuse requisite funds for meeting its obligations, rescheduling of debt, other liabilities and resuming normal operations," the auditors said.

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