A senior staff member at ICICI Lombard accidentally posted draft financial results for the December quarter on their personal WhatsApp status, prompting the insurer to inform stock exchanges as a precaution.
What Happened
On January 9, around 5:44 pm, a designated employee uploaded unaudited draft numbers for the quarter and nine months ended December 2025 to their WhatsApp status. The post was removed within an hour after the mistake was spotted.
Company’s Response
ICICI Lombard clarified that the figures were only draft numbers and could change once the audit is complete. To follow good corporate‑governance practice, the firm reported the incident to the exchanges and warned investors not to rely on the leaked data.
Implications for Investors
- Only officially approved financial results, signed off by the board, should be used for investment decisions.
- The leaked draft numbers have not been disclosed, so their impact on the stock price remains uncertain.
- Such lapses highlight the need for stronger internal controls over unpublished price‑sensitive information (UPSI).
Similar Incidents
Earlier this month, Hatsun Agro Products faced a comparable issue when a manager posted draft quarterly results on WhatsApp. About 19 contacts viewed the post before it was deleted. Both cases underscore regulatory concerns about accidental UPSI leaks via informal messaging apps.
Regulatory Perspective
Under securities rules, companies must share UPSI uniformly through official exchange filings. Even unintentional disclosures can attract regulator scrutiny.
Remember, this is perspective, not a prediction. Do your own research before making any investment decisions.