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May 2013

Section A: AS 29: Disclosures regarding provision for potential civil and criminal liability

By Himanshu V. Kishnadwala, Chartered Accountant
Reading Time 7 mins
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Section A: AS 29: Disclosures regarding provision for potential civil and criminal liability

Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd Year ended 31-12-2011

From Notes to Accounts (Rupees in millions)

On 20th December 2011, the Company agreed to enter into a Consent Decree with the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) of United States of America (“USA”) to resolve the existing administrative actions taken by FDA against the Company’s Paonta Sahib and Dewas facilities. The Consent Decree was approved by the United States District Court for the District of Maryland on 26th January 2012. The Consent Decree establishes certain requirements intended to further strengthen the Company’s procedures for ensuring the integrity of data in its US applications and good manufacturing practices at its Paonta Sahib and Dewas facilities. Successful compliance with the terms of the Consent Decree is required for the company to resume supply of products from the Dewas and Paonta Sahib facilities to USA.

Further, the Company is negotiating towards a settlement with the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) of USA for resolution of potential civil and criminal allegations by DOJ. Accordingly, the Company has recorded a provision of Rs. 26,480 million ($500 million) which the Company believes will be sufficient to resolve all potential civil and criminal liability.

From Auditor’s Report

Without qualifying our opinion, we draw attention to note 2 of schedule 24 of the financial statements, wherein it has been stated that the management is negotiating towards a settlement with the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) of the United States of America for resolution of potential civil and criminal allegations by the DOJ. Accordingly, a provision of Rs. 26,480 million has been recorded which the management believes will be sufficient to resolve all potential civil and criminal liability.

From CARO report
According to the information and explanations given to us, the provisions created for FDA/DOJ for Rs. 26,480 million (as explained in Note 2 of Schedule 24) by the Company has resulted into long-term funds being lower by Rs. 21,754.09 million compared to long-term assets as at 31st December 2011. Accordingly, on an overall examination of the balance sheet of the Company as at 31st December 2011, it appears that short term funds of Rs. 21,754.09 million have been used for long-term purposes during the current year (without considering the impact of excess remuneration paid to Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director as explained in paragraph (d) of the audit report). As represented to us by the management, the shortfall is temporary in nature, hence resulting in long-term funds being lower.

From Directors’ Report

With regard to qualifications contained in the auditors’ report, explanations are given below:

i) Long term funds lower than long term assetsnote no. 2 of Schedule 24 to the financial statements.

The Company has made a provision of Rs. 26,480 million for settlement with the Department of Justice (DoJ) of U.S.A., which the Company believes will be sufficient to resolve all potential civil and criminal liability. This has resulted into long-term funds being lower by Rs. 21,754.09 million compared to long-term assets as at 31st December 2011. The Company believes that the abovementioned shortfall is temporary in nature.

From Management Discussions and Analysis statement

Regulators across the world have become stricter, in respect of compliance to requirements with even more severe consequences for non-compliance.

Ranbaxy signed a Consent Decree (“CD”) with the United States Food & Drug Administration (“US FDA”) in December 2011 to resolve the existing administrative actions taken by the US FDA against the Company’s Poanta Sahib, Dewas and Gloversville facilities. The CD was subsequently approved by the United States District Court for the Court of Maryland on 25th January, 2012. The CD establishes certain requirements intended to further strengthen the Company’s procedures for ensuring the integrity of data in the US applications and good manufacturing practices at its Poanta Sahib and Dewas facilities.

Specifically, the CD requires that Ranbaxy comply with detailed data integrity provisions before FDA will resume reviewing drug applications containing data or other information from the afore-mentioned plants. These provisions include:

1. Hire a third party expert to conduct a thorough review at the facilities and audit applications containing data from affected plants;

2. Implement procedures and controls sufficient to ensure data integrity in the Company’s drug applications; and

3. Withdraw any applications found to contain untrue statements of material fact and/or a pattern or practice of data irregularities that could affect approval of the application.

The Company will have to relinquish 180 days exclusivity for 3 pending generic drug applications. This will not have material impact on the performance of the Company. The Company could also be liable for liquidated damages to cover potential violations of the law and CD. The implementation of CD, is expected to put to rest the legacy issue that impacted Ranbaxy, and requires strict adherence.

The Company separately announced a provision of $500 Mn in connection with the investigation of the Department of Justice, which the Company believes will be sufficient to resolve all potential civil and criminal liabilities. The Company has taken corrective actions to address the CD concerns and is confident of working together with the regulators towards its satisfactory closure.

Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd Year ended 31-12-2012

From Notes to Accounts (Rupees in millions)

The Company is negotiating towards a settlement with the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) of the USA for resolution of potential civil and criminal allegations by DOJ. Accordingly, the Company had recorded a provision of Rs 26,480 ($500 Million) in the year ended 31st December 2011, which on a consideration of the progress in the matter so far, the Company believes will be sufficient to resolve all potential civil and criminal liability. The Company and its subsidiaries are in the process of negotiations which will conclusively pave the way for a Comprehensive DOJ Settlement. The settlement of this liability is expected to be made by the Company in compliance with the terms of settlement, once concluded and subject to other regulatory/statutory provisions.

From Auditor’s Report
No mention

From CARO Report


Clause 10
The accumulated losses of the Company at the end of the year are not less than fifty percent of its net worth (without adjusting accumulated losses). As explained to us, these are primarily due to provision created for settlement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) of the United States of America for resolution of potential civil and criminal allegations by the DOJ (refer to note 8 of the financial statements). The Company has not incurred cash losses in the current financial year though it had incurred cash losses in the immediately preceding financial year.

Clause 17

According to the information and explanations given to us, the provision created for settlement with the DOJ amounting to Rs. 26,480 million (refer to note 8 of the financial statements) by the Company in the previous accounting year have resulted in long-term funds being lower by Rs. 5,558.22 million compared to long-term assets as at 31st December 2012. Accordingly, on an overall examination of the Balance Sheet of the Company as at 31st December 2012, it appears that short term funds of Rs. 5,558.22 million have been used for long-term purposes. As represented to us by the management, the shortfall is temporary in nature and action is being taken to have long term funds within a short period of the amount being actually paid.

From Directors’ Report
In continuation of signing of the Consent Decree with the USFDA, the Company is in the final stage of settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to resolve civil and criminal liabilities.

With regard to comments contained in the Auditors’ Report, explanations are given below:

i)    The accumulated losses of the Company at the end of the year are not less than fifty percent of its net worth:

The accumulated losses are primarily due to provision of Rs. 26,480 million created by the Company in the year ended 31st December, 2011 for settlement with the DOJ for resolution of potential civil and criminal allegations by the DOJ.

ii) Short term funds used for long term purposes:

The Company had made a provision of Rs. 26,480 million in the previous accounting year for settlement with the DOJ. This has resulted into long-term funds being lower by Rs. 5,558.22 million compared to long-term assets as at 31st December, 2012. Accordingly, short-term funds of Rs. 5,558.22 million have been used for long-term purposes which are temporary in nature.

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