Spain's Grifols slumps after short-seller accuses healthcare group of fraud

Investing.com -- Madrid-listed shares in Grifols (BME:GRLS) fell sharply on Tuesday after U.K.-based short-seller Gotham City Research issued a report questioning the validity of the Spanish healthcare firm's financial figures.

In a report, Gotham City argued that Grifols "manipulates" its reported debt and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to "artificially reduce" its reported leverage. The group's leverage of 6 times EBITDA, Gotham City claimed, should be closer to 10 times to 13 times.

"Should our estimate of the Grifols’ true leverage be correct, [Grifols] will face notably higher financing costs," Gotham City said. "Consequently, we believe shares are uninvestable, likely zero."

The allegations stem from the sale of two businesses -- BPC Plasma and Haema -- to Scranton Enterprises, a family vehicle. According to Gotham City, both Grifols and Scranton fully consolidate BPC and Haema onto their financial statements, a practice that they called "materially deceptive and incorrect."

Grifols shares shed nearly $3.83 billion of their market value at one point in the wake of the fraud allegations.

Nasdaq-listed Grifols, which produces blood plasma-based medicines, told Spain's market regulator CNMV that the Gotham City report amounted to "false information and speculation."

"As a company committed to transparency, integrity, and ethical conduct, we categorically deny and reject any allegations of wrongful accounting or reporting practices of our consolidated financial statements," Grifols said.

On its website, Gotham City describes itself as a group that "focuses on due diligence-based investing," adding that it may have long or short equity positions in the companies it covers.

Founded in Barcelona in 1909, Grifols has grown into an international business with operations in over 30 countries and more than 24,000 employees.