(Yicai Global) July 20 -- China's main securities regulator may hand Whirlpool China a fine of CNY400,000 (USD57,240) due to inflated sales figures.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission's Anhui branch has completed its investigation into the household appliance maker and could impose administrative penalties, including personal fines going up to CNY200,00, the Hefei-based firm said in a statement on July 18.

The regulator had discovered the manufacturer to have fabricated sales, delayed registering expenses, played down discounts, and inflated profits and revenue in 2015 and 2016. But the official verdict has not been announced yet.

Whirlpool China had detected and revealed the accounting errors on July 27, 2017. The company's management initially estimated the sum involved to be as much as CNY300 million (USD42.9 million).

Whirlpool China’s stock price [SHA:600983] climbed 4.1 percent to CNY5.08 (US 73 cents) this afternoon.

Editor: Emmi Laine