Welspun India stock hit lower circuit for third day in a row, down 42%

Welspun India stock hit lower circuit for third day in a row, down 42%

Shares of Welspun India hit lower circuit for the third day in a row on Wednesday, as the fallout from Target Corp's decision to terminate business with the firm for passing off cheap sheets as premium Egyptian cotton escalated.

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Photo: ReutersPhoto: Reuters
BusinessToday.In
  • Aug 24, 2016,
  • Updated Aug 24, 2016 11:46 AM IST

Shares of Welspun India hit lower circuit for the third day in a row on Wednesday, as the fallout from Target Corp's decision to terminate business with the firm for passing off cheap sheets as premium Egyptian cotton escalated.

After Target and Walmart, now JC Penney said it will investigate Welspun textiles product claims.

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The stock of the company plunged 10 per cent to Rs 59.30 on the BSE. The scrip has lost 42.24 per cent in last three days.

ALSO READ: Remember market crash of 2015? One year on, 3 sectors that bounced back over 30%

Target said on Friday that it was severing ties with Welspun after its extensive investigation had confirmed that the Indian company, which purportedly used Egyptian cottons to make sheets and pillowcases sold to the retailer, substituted non-Egyptian cotton instead.

Target is Welspun India's biggest customer after Bed Bath and Beyond. It accounted for about $90 million, or 10 percent of the company's total business in the financial year through March, Welspun executives said on a conference call on Monday.

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Welspun said on the call that it was investigating the product specification issue and would hire a Big Four accountancy firm to review its supply processes.

ALSO READ: What's buzzing on Dalal Street in Wednesday's session

Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Welspun's third-biggest customer, is also reviewing the company's cotton certification records, the Wall Street Journal reported.

A spokesman for Welspun said the company did not wish to comment on the reported Wal-Mart review.

The US retail giant accounts for about 8 to 9 per cent of Welspun's revenues, according to Elara Capital analyst Sumant Kumar.

"The risk is there as these are still early stages, so we need to wait and see," Kumar said.

Sales of Egyptian cotton bedding account for only about 6 percent of Welspun's total sales, according to Kumar, but the loss to the company's credibility means other customers could withdraw all their business as Target has done.

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Analysts said Welspun did not provide clear answers during Monday's conference call, when asked whether other customers could follow Target's move to cut ties.

"We are actively engaged with our clients," Welspun's Managing Director Rajesh Mandawewala said, in response to that query on the call.

Kumar, in his note, said Welspun executives were vague on facts during the call, which threw up more questions than answers.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Disclaimer: Business Today provides stock market news for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Shares of Welspun India hit lower circuit for the third day in a row on Wednesday, as the fallout from Target Corp's decision to terminate business with the firm for passing off cheap sheets as premium Egyptian cotton escalated.

After Target and Walmart, now JC Penney said it will investigate Welspun textiles product claims.

Advertisement

The stock of the company plunged 10 per cent to Rs 59.30 on the BSE. The scrip has lost 42.24 per cent in last three days.

ALSO READ: Remember market crash of 2015? One year on, 3 sectors that bounced back over 30%

Target said on Friday that it was severing ties with Welspun after its extensive investigation had confirmed that the Indian company, which purportedly used Egyptian cottons to make sheets and pillowcases sold to the retailer, substituted non-Egyptian cotton instead.

Target is Welspun India's biggest customer after Bed Bath and Beyond. It accounted for about $90 million, or 10 percent of the company's total business in the financial year through March, Welspun executives said on a conference call on Monday.

Advertisement

Welspun said on the call that it was investigating the product specification issue and would hire a Big Four accountancy firm to review its supply processes.

ALSO READ: What's buzzing on Dalal Street in Wednesday's session

Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Welspun's third-biggest customer, is also reviewing the company's cotton certification records, the Wall Street Journal reported.

A spokesman for Welspun said the company did not wish to comment on the reported Wal-Mart review.

The US retail giant accounts for about 8 to 9 per cent of Welspun's revenues, according to Elara Capital analyst Sumant Kumar.

"The risk is there as these are still early stages, so we need to wait and see," Kumar said.

Sales of Egyptian cotton bedding account for only about 6 percent of Welspun's total sales, according to Kumar, but the loss to the company's credibility means other customers could withdraw all their business as Target has done.

Advertisement

Analysts said Welspun did not provide clear answers during Monday's conference call, when asked whether other customers could follow Target's move to cut ties.

"We are actively engaged with our clients," Welspun's Managing Director Rajesh Mandawewala said, in response to that query on the call.

Kumar, in his note, said Welspun executives were vague on facts during the call, which threw up more questions than answers.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Disclaimer: Business Today provides stock market news for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
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