Renault-Nissan audit findings submitted to French prosecutors

[July 13, 2019]    PARIS (Reuters) - Renault <RENA.PA> has handed French prosecutors the conclusions of an audit into its joint finances with alliance partner Nissan <7201.T>, the carmaker said on Friday.

The logos of car manufacturers Renault and Nissan are seen in front of dealerships of the companies in Reims, France, July 9, 2019. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

The audit, carried out by accountancy firm Mazars in the wake of the Carlos Ghosn scandal, identified 11 million euros ($12.4 million) in questionable spending by the Dutch-registered alliance subsidiary Renault-Nissan BV, Renault said in April.

Former chairman Ghosn, ousted by both carmakers following his November arrest in Tokyo, is awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges he denies.

Renault submitted the audit findings in response to a requisition by prosecutors, the company said in a statement.

"Renault is fully cooperating with the authorities and will not comment on the report's content to avoid the risk of jeopardizing the proper conduct of the investigation," it added.

French police searched the company's headquarters outside Paris last week as prosecutors continue to examine spending by Renault and the RNBV joint venture.

(Reporting by Laurence Frost; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)

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