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STEINHOFF INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS N.V. - FSCA Fines Steinhoff For Contravention Of The Financial Markets Act

Release Date: 12/09/2019 11:15
Code(s): SNH SHFF     PDF:  
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FSCA Fines Steinhoff For Contravention Of The Financial Markets Act

Steinhoff International Holdings N.V.
(Incorporated in the Netherlands)
(Registration number: 63570173)
Share Code: SNH
ISIN: NL0011375019


Steinhoff Investment Holdings Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number: 1954/001893/06)
JSE Code: SHFF
ISIN: ZAE000068367


FSCA fines Steinhoff for contravention of the Financial Markets Act

Steinhoff International Holdings N.V. (“Steinhoff” or the “Company” and with its subsidiaries, the
“Group”)

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (“FSCA”) has today released a press release informing the
market as follows:

“The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has concluded its investigation into alleged
contraventions of the Financial Markets Act No 19 of 2012 (FMA 2012) by the Steinhoff Group in the
period prior to the discovery of significant accounting irregularities at the Company in December 2017.

The requirement for Steinhoff to make multiple, significant restatements of its accounts subsequent to
December 2017 supports the conclusion that Steinhoff failed to meet its obligations under the FMA
2012. The FSCA has therefore found that the Steinhoff Group made false, misleading or deceptive
statements, promises or forecasts in its public statements to the markets in the prior period.

The FSCA has applied section 109 of the FMA 2012 to determine the level of administrative penalty to
be paid by Steinhoff and, having considered representations from the Company, has also taken into
account a number of mitigating factors.

The FSCA has imposed an administrative penalty of R1.5 billion on Steinhoff under Section 81 of the
FMA 2012. Noting Steinhoff’s current financial position; to avoid penalising innocent Steinhoff
shareholders further; in recognition of the fraud perpetrated on the Steinhoff Group by former
employees and officers of the Company; and in acknowledgement of the co-operation of management
to date and Steinhoff’s commitment to continue co-operating fully with the FSCA in all future actions
taken against any persons allegedly responsible for the wrongdoing, the FSCA has resolved, under
Section 173 of the Financial Regulation Act No. 9 of 2017, to remit a portion of the administrative
penalty resulting in Steinhoff paying a penalty of R53 million.
The FSCA states that events subsequent to December 2017 have highlighted the gap that existed
between the Steinhoff Group’s prior public statements and the financial reality. The size of the headline
penalty reflects the scale and severity of the regulatory breach. While, in light of Steinhoff’s current
financial position, we have made the decision to remit a substantial proportion of the penalty, even
after this reduction it remains the largest single fine ever imposed by the FSCA. We would like to thank
the current Steinhoff management team for their co-operation and constructive engagement through
this difficult and complex process.”

Louis du Preez, Group CEO of Steinhoff said:

“This regulatory action relates to the activities of the Steinhoff Group in respect of the period prior to
the discovery of the accounting irregularities in December 2017. We are pleased that the matter has
now been brought to a conclusion and that the FSCA has recognised our full co-operation with the
investigation. There are no further enforcement FSCA actions outstanding against the Steinhoff Group.
We would like to thank the FSCA for its professionalism throughout our engagement.”

JSE Sponsor: PSG Capital
Stellenbosch, 12 September 2019

Date: 12/09/2019 11:15:00
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