The logo of Swiss specialty chemicals company Clariant is seen at the company's headquarters in Pratteln, Switzerland August 9, 2017. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
ZURICH, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Clariant (CLN.S)has delayed the release of its 2021 results as investigators probe whistleblowers' allegations that some staff manipulated accounts in 2020 and 2021 to help meet financial targets, the Swiss speciality chemicals group said on Monday.
Its shares were indicated more than 5% lower in pre-market activity.
"The investigation is not entirely concluded but suggests that there was a limited group of people globally who may have attempted a profit steering to build some performance buffer," Peter Steiner, head of the board's audit committee, told a conference call with reporters.
"So far there is no indication whatsoever that anyone has had any personal gains from this," he said, adding there was also no evidence that anyone from former management was involved.
The company has suspended an unspecified number of staff but has not reported the case to prosecutors, he added.
CEO Conrad Keijzer was appointed in December 2020 to run the company after the CEO post was vacant for more than a year.
Former CEO and then-Chairman Hariolf Kottmann, who drove Clariant's 2017 failed merger bid with Huntsman (HUN.N), had filled the job on an interim basis.
Steiner said the whistleblowers had come forward on Sept. 10 last year, leading to the broadened probe that while far advanced had not allowed...
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