How a WhatsApp message destroyed Infibeam Avenues's market value by 71%

Infibeam Avenues lost 71 per cent of its market value on a single day after a WhatsApp message raised concerns about the e-commerce firm’s accounting practices. Speculation mounted before a shareholder meeting on Saturday, after a message attributed to Equirus Securities began circulating on WhatsApp, said Bhavin Mehta, an analyst at Dolat Capital Market.

 

The message was sent a few months ago by an Equirus analyst to some clients and resurfaced on the messaging platform Thursday, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified as they aren’t authorised to speak on the issue. The record slump on Friday prompted the company to make a voluntary clarification to exchanges saying there was no pending information or announcement that may impact its share price. The WhatsApp message alleged, among other things, that the company had given interest-free and unsecured loans to its units, the people said. Infibeam gave unsecured, interest-free loans of Rs 1.35 billion  ($18.6 million) to related firms for business operations as of March 31, according to the company’s annual report. “The fact the shares were closely held with hardly any institutional ownership added to the weakness in the counter after the WhatsApp message,” said Abhimanyu Sofat, head of research at IIFL Securities Ltd.

 

Infibeam operates an e-commerce platform in the business-to-business and business-to-consumer space, according to its website. In a separate August note, Equirus said the company’s e-commerce business was adding 1,500 merchants every month, with revenues growing 100 per cent annually in the past five years. An external spokesman for Equirus declined to comment on the matter when reached by phone. Vishal Mehta, managing director at Infibeam, didn’t respond to calls and a message on his phone. The stock collapsed as much as 73 per cent before closing 71 per cent lower at Rs 58.45 on Friday in Mumbai.