微密圈

Sweett Group鈥檚 拢9.3m sale of its Asia Pacific and India businesses to Currie & Brown has hit problems.

The two companies are locked in a dispute over an adjustment to the sale price on the back of changes to the net asset value of the businesses, caused primarily by exchange rate movements.

Currie & Brown believes there needs to be a reduction of 拢1.8m in the price, while Sweett has reported it has been advised that the sale price should be reduced by around 拢540,000.

Sweett notified investors of the dispute in a statement on the AIM stock exchange this morning. The dispute is being referred for expert determination as a result of the disagreement and the two parties are seeking to agree an independent accountant.

Sweett said it disputes a 鈥渘umber of matters,鈥� including the treatment of client balances, particularly in China, the accounting policies and practices adopted by Currie & Brown and its interpretation of the Sale documents.

Sweett鈥檚 chief executive Douglas McCormick (pictured) previously told 微密圈 that the proceeds of the sale would be used to 鈥渟ignificantly improve鈥� the firm鈥檚 net debt position, which reduces to circa 拢4m, down from 拢9.5m in April.

The news follows Sweett鈥檚 February sentence for bribery offences in the Middle East, for which the company has been ordered to pay a 拢2.3m fine.

Currie & Brown declined to comment.