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Afterpay’s Share Price Up After External Audit Findings

Jordan Baird

Jordan Baird is the head ASR Wealth Advisers client services desk and has been with the organisation since 2017. He first started investing in his early years. While he believes that investors should leave no stone unturned he has a particular interest in trading based on broad macroeconomic trends along with specific analysis of innovative up-and-coming companies.

An external audit ordered by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) regarding Afterpay Touch Group Ltd (ASX: APT) has dismantled speculation of the company’s non-compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AMT/CTF) rules.

APT - SHARE PRICE
Afterpay’s share price takes a sharp increase after revealed findings of external audit (source: David Chau)

The audit found that in 2016 Afterpay had received incorrect legal advice from an unnamed top-tier Australian law firm that misunderstood the business model of the buy-now, pay-later company. I was found that the law firm provided advice with the conception that the service provided by Afterpay was not providing loans to consumers but providing factoring to merchants.

As stated by auditor Neil Jean:

The initial legal advice provided to Afterpay did not reflect Afterpay’s business model.

As a result of this incorrect designation, Afterpay's anti-money laundering controls focused on merchants selling goods, rather than consumers of Afterpay who used loans to finance and pay for goods.

However, since then, Afterpay has made continuous progress in oversight and governance, verifying its customers and conducting due diligence on merchants.

This is supported by the external audit, were Mr Jean wrote:

From the work undertaken as part of the audit, it is evident that there is a continued commitment by the Board to ensure the business and supporting AML/CTF functions are provided with adequate funding, staff and technical support in order to comply.

The continued effort referred to by Mr Jean, includes increasing the allocation of resources to developing the company’s transaction monitoring, which is described as "effective, efficient and intelligent."

As a result, the Mr Jean expressed that the money laundering and terrorism financing risks inherently faced by Afterpay's business were inherently low.

After the release of the report’s summary on Monday, Afterpay shares have climbed 7 per cent on the ASX, at the time of writing. This comes as no surprise given the positive outcome of the external report, removing uncertainty surrounding the S&P/ASX 100 stock

Finally, whilst the actual money laundering and terrorism financing risks inherently faced by Afterpay’s business are low, Afterpay’s exponential growth and increasing transaction volumes heighten the risk of misuse of Afterpay’s buy-now pay-later service. Mr Jean recognised this in his report, stating that:

The Board should maintain a focus on AML/CTF compliance and ensure AML/CTF managers continue to be proactively supported and appropriately equipped to deal with these challenges.

 


 

Disclaimer:

This article has been prepared by the Australian Stock Report Pty Ltd (AFSL: 301 682. ABN: 94 106 863 978)

(“ASR”). ASR is part of Amalgamated Australian Investment Group Limited (AAIG) (ABN: 81 140 208 288 Level 13, 130 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000).

This article is provided for informational purpose only and does not purport to contain all matters relevant to any particular investment or financial instrument. Any market commentary in this communication is not intended to constitute “research” as defined by applicable regulations. Whilst information published on or accessed via this website is believed to be reliable, as far as permitted by law we make no representations as to its ongoing availability, accuracy or completeness. Any quotes or prices used herein are current at the time of preparation. This document and its contents are proprietary information and products of our firm and may not be reproduced or otherwise disseminated in whole or in part without our written consent unless required to by judicial or administrative proceeding. The ultimate decision to proceed with any transaction rests solely with you. We are not acting as your advisor in relation to any information contained herein. Any projections are estimates only and may not be realised in the future.

ASR has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

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