PWC resigns as RCap, Reliance Home Finance statutory auditor

New Delhi: Anil Ambani-led Reliance Capital and Reliance Home Finance Wednesday said Price Waterhouse & Co Chartered Accountants (PWC) has resigned as statutory auditor of both the companies. PWC has put in its resignation, with effect from June 11, 2019, citing unsatisfactory response to "certain observations" made by it as a part of the ongoing audit for fiscal 2018-19, the two companies said in their respective regulatory filings to stock exchanges.

Both Reliance Capital and Reliance Home Finance said they do "not agree with the reasons given by PWC". While the board of directors of Reliance Capital has noted and accepted the resignation, Reliance Home Finance said its audit committee and board will meet on Thursday and will decide upon the new statutory auditor.

Reliance Capital and Reliance Home Finance said that PWC cited the companies' failure to convene audit committee meetings within the expected time, despite multiple letters of intent sent to them, as one of the reasons for the resignation.

PWC also stated that the companies said they might initiate appropriate legal proceedings against the firm, according to the filings. According to PWC, these actions by the companies "have prevented it from performing its duties as statutory auditors and exercising independent judgment in making a report to the members of the company, and impaired its independence, and hence, it is no longer in a position to complete the audit; and instead feels compelled to withdraw from the audit engagement and resign," both the companies said, elaborating on the reasons behind the resignation.

The companies, however, stated they duly responded to the various queries and letters of PWC and have convened meetings of their audit committees on June 12, 2019, to further respond to the letters from PWC.