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Прайсы
![топ 100 блогов](/media/images/default.jpg)
Медленно, но верно выполняем план работ по
"делу Транснефти".
Отчитываюсь по п. 4 - "Воздействие на аудиторов".
Удалось сорганизовать небольшую, но очень профессиональную группу
аудиторов. Все продвинутые чуваки. Большинство - бывшие и
действующие сотрудники компаний "Большой
четверки".
Я ужасно этим доволен, потому что мои личные познания о
тонкостях работы аудиторских компаний находятся на уровне:
- мммммм... скорее всего аудиторы много пользуются
калькулятором, ведь в своей работе они частенько сталкиваются с
цифрами...
Но теперь, благодаря помощи добреньких добровольцев, мы готовы
весело потыкать острой палкой в PricewaterhouseCoopers (они же
"Прайсы").
Прайсы очевидным образом несут ответственность за свою работу перед
самой "Транснефтью", её акционерами и держателями облигаций.
Всем нам крайне сложно поверить, что они не были в курсе хищений
такого масштаба, последующей грандиозной проверки внутри
"Транснефти" и проверки со стороны Счетной Палаты.
Позиция "сидим, наивно хлопаем глазками и делаем вид, что ничего не
происходит" никого больше не устраивает.
Репутация - главный актив аудиторской компании. В ситуации с
"Транснефтью" Прайсвотерхауз очень сильно рискует её лишиться.
Мы сделаем все возможное, чтобы сомнительные действия Прайсов были
известны всем.
Напомню, что с "ЮКОСом"
они уже накуролесили. Пришлось отчет отзывать.
"Транснефть" тоже даром не обойдется.
Ниже можно ознакомиться с первым результатом коллективной
работы.
Официальное обращение в российский и международные офисы PWC:
December 10, 2010
Peter Gerendasi
Managing Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers Russia
Copy to: Pierre Coll
Global Leader for Risk and Quality
Javier H. Rubinstein
Global General Counsel
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Dear Mr. Gerendasi,
In this letter I would like to draw your
attention to the recent widely publicized disclosure of certain
information related to the construction of ESPO (East
Siberia-Pacific Ocean) pipeline by OAO Transneft, the state
controlled Russian pipeline monopoly, and the implications of this
disclosure for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as Transneft’s
auditor.
The ESPO pipeline has been one of the most prominent investment
projects undertaken by the Russian state over the last few
years. The construction cost of the pipeline is estimated to
exceed USD 13 billion and its completion would allow Russia to
diversify the export routes for country’s Eastern Siberia
oil. Throughout the course of the project the market was
filled with rumors of widespread graft and corruption within
Transneft resulting in huge misappropriations from its capital
expenditure budget.
As a minority shareholder of Transneft and a concerned citizen of
the Russian Federation, I have been investigating this issue for
several months. On November 16, 2010 I made publicly
available a copy of the report provided in 2008 by Transneft
management to the Audit Chamber of the Russian Federation,
outlining numerous instances of violations of normal business
practices. It is estimated that the total amount siphoned
from the company through various mechanisms and schemes reaches up
to USD 4 billion. I understand that the Audit Chamber has
decided against the publication of the report and its findings.
However, so far neither the Audit Chamber nor Transneft have
questioned the existence and authenticity of this report.
Given high professional standards of PwC and the scale of fraud, I
find it hard to believe that the PwC Transneft audit team has not
seen signs of the irregularities related to the pipeline
construction during annual audit procedures. One would have
expected PwC to request and review the aforementioned report during
the test of internal controls given the fact that information about
the Audit Chamber enquiry was publicly available.
If facts stipulated in the report are correct, it is very likely
that the financial statements of the company are materially
misstated at least in relation to the cost of fixed assets and
construction in progress, capital expenditure cash outflows, cost
items classification and non-disclosure of transactions with
affiliated parties. In addition, the auditing standards
stipulate that the discovery of major facts of fraud and graft in
the course of the audit process should be disclosed in the
auditor’s opinion, which was not done. The auditor also has a
duty to examine the negative information regarding the company,
such as the described report, and if confirmed, reflect the
findings in its independent opinion.
The fact that Transneft has enjoyed unqualified audit opinions in
previous years raises the question about the quality of audit and
potential non-compliance with the International Standards on
Auditing (ISAs) and International Standard on Quality Control
(ISQC). The unprecedented size and relative simplicity of fraud
schemes developed and applied by Transneft management over
many years may also serve as an indicator of potential
violations of the Code of Conduct by PwC auditors and low
professional ethic standards.
The likely audit shortcomings and inaccurate financial statements
may have misled holders of securities issued by Transneft,
including myself, as well as the general investing public.
PwC sign-off on the accounts with such serious "misappropriations"
poses a direct threat to integrity and reputation of your
firm. I strongly encourage you to be open and transparent
with various stakeholders about this regretful situation and
undertake the following steps:
1. Internal investigation into the authenticity of the report
and the facts therein, as well as into the quality of the Transneft
audit engagement. The results of the investigation should be
made public.
2. Should the findings of the report be confirmed, modification of
prior independent auditor's opinions would be the logical step. It
can be done irrespective of any further actions likely to be
required in conjunction with release of 2010 financial statements
by Transneft.
3. Self-disclosure with the US Department of Justice with respect
to potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in
connection with the Transneft case. If report findings are
confirmed, it is very likely that PwC employees have helped
Transneft management (which would fall under “foreign government
officials”) to gain illegal profits, an offense punishable under
FCPA.
Failure to do this expediently will expose PwC to the risk of
litigation on behalf of various users of Transneft financial
statements, and may also trigger independent inquiries by
professional bodies responsible for maintaining auditing
standards. Ultimately, as exemplified by the WikiLeaks events
unfolding over the last weeks, the truth will be known.
I encourage you and your colleagues not to view this situation as a
case specific to Russia and its state-owned companies, which are
notorious for their murkiness and dubious business practices, but
consider global implications of this case, which may pave the way
to a “de facto” relaxation of PwC standards in various
countries. It is understandable, moreover, inevitable that
some individuals within such global organization like PwC would be
inclined to bend to the client’s pressure and take a relaxed view
of the auditing standards, especially in countries like Russia
which consistently find themselves near the bottom of the
international rankings of transparency and corruption.
However, the financial world and the investing public rely on the
integrity of the major audit firms and require uncompromising
attitude to such cases, including honest public disclosure of
internal failings. Similar circumstances led to a number of
scandals, including unraveling of some of your competitors over the
last decade. It would be a shame if the reputation of audit
professionals and PwC in particular would be undermined by its
non-transparent treatment of the Transneft case.
I would be grateful for your prompt response. Should you have
any questions and/or concerns regarding this matter, please do not
hesitate to contact me at your convenience.
Sincerely yours,
Alexey Navalny
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Особенно приветствуется распространение среди сотрудников и
акционеров компаний, привлекающих PWC в качестве аудитора.
Всем авторам письма - лучи благодарности,
пламенный привет и огромное спасибо.