ICICI Lombard General Insurance has reported a corporate governance breach to stock exchanges after a senior employee accidentally shared draft financial results on a personal WhatsApp status. The incident highlights growing concerns about the protection of unpublished price-sensitive information in an era of widespread digital communication.

Incident Details and Timeline

The insurance company disclosed in a regulatory filing that a "designated person" inadvertently posted certain information relating to unaudited draft financial results for the quarter and nine months ended December 2025 on their personal WhatsApp status. The incident occurred at approximately 5:44 pm on January 9, 2025.

The company acted swiftly to address the situation, with the post being taken down within an hour after the lapse was identified. However, ICICI Lombard did not disclose the specific nature or quantum of the draft figures that were shared, nor did it indicate whether the information was viewed by others before deletion.

Company Response and Precautionary Measures

ICICI Lombard emphasized that the figures shared were in draft form and remain subject to change as the audit process for the period is still ongoing. The company stated in its regulatory filing: "Though this information is in draft form and subject to changes during the ongoing audit, as a precautionary measure and in compliance with good corporate governance practices, the Company is reporting this incident to the Stock Exchanges."

The insurer issued a clear warning to investors, cautioning that reliance on any information related to its financial results should not be made unless it is formally disclosed following approval by the board of directors. This advisory underscores the preliminary nature of the accidentally shared information.

Broader Industry Concerns

This incident is not isolated, as similar corporate governance lapses have emerged recently. Hatsun Agro Product reported a comparable incident earlier in January, where draft unaudited financial information for the December quarter was inadvertently shared by key managerial personnel on personal WhatsApp status.

In Hatsun Agro's case, the executive had uploaded a "first-cut draft" of unaudited financial statements around 5 pm on January 4. The status update was viewed by approximately 19 people from the executive's contact list, including several insiders, before removal.

Regulatory Implications

Under securities regulations, companies are required to ensure that unpublished price-sensitive information is disseminated fairly and uniformly, typically through official stock exchange filings. Any selective or inadvertent disclosure, even if unintentional, can attract regulatory scrutiny. These recent incidents have sparked concerns about internal controls and the safeguarding of sensitive financial information amid the widespread use of informal messaging platforms for business communications.

The frequency of such incidents highlights the need for enhanced digital governance protocols and employee training regarding the handling of price-sensitive information on personal communication platforms.

ICICI Lombard General Insurance informed stock exchanges on Saturday, January 10, 2026, about an inadvertent disclosure of confidential financial information by one of its designated persons. The incident involved the accidental sharing of unaudited draft financial results for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2025, on a personal WhatsApp status.

Incident Details

According to the regulatory filing, the information was posted on January 9, 2026, at approximately 5:44 pm. The company's exchange filing stated that "a designated person of the Company inadvertently uploaded certain information pertaining to an unaudited draft financial results of the Company for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2025, on the personal WhatsApp Status."

The official responsible for the breach removed the post within an hour of becoming aware of the incident, demonstrating quick remedial action.

Board Meeting and Official Results

The company's board meeting is scheduled for January 13, 2026, to consider and approve the audited financial results and financial statements for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2025. This timing makes the inadvertent disclosure particularly sensitive, occurring just days before the official announcement.

Corporate Governance Response

In line with good corporate governance practices, ICICI Lombard General Insurance has taken several precautionary measures:

• Immediate notification to stock exchanges about the incident
• Warning to investors against relying on unofficial financial information
• Initiation of internal inquiry under applicable regulations
• Commitment to inform Audit Committee and Board of Directors

Investor Advisory and Regulatory Compliance

The company has explicitly warned investors not to depend on any financial information unless it has been officially released following approval by the board of directors. The filing emphasized that "the draft financial results may change during the ongoing audit and have not been approved by the board of directors."

The company has initiated a comprehensive internal inquiry in accordance with SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015, the Company's Insider Trading Code, and other applicable policies. Once the inquiry concludes, ICICI Lombard General Insurance will share the findings with the stock exchanges, ensuring full transparency and regulatory compliance.