(Updates)
** Shares of enterprise AI firm iLearningEngines AILE.O
fall 54.3% to $1.45 in afternoon trading
** Hindenburg Research discloses short position in co,
suspects AILE's revenue and expenses largely "fake"
** Co was close to insolvency when it merged with a SPAC
sponsor in April, had $800,000 in cash and $22 mln in debt,
Hindenburg says
** AILE lied to SEC about 96% of its revenue in 2022 coming
from an undisclosed related party, Hindenburg claims
** "iLearningEngines has no obvious industry presence,
doesn't name key customers or partners and does not appear to do
the volume of business it claims," Hindenburg says
** "We have reviewed the full report and believe it contains
misleading statements, speculations and innuendos. We intend to
respond in the coming days," AILE says in a statement
** Reuters could not independently verify claims in the
Hindenburg report
** AILE shares down ~69.5% YTD
(Reporting by Arsheeya Bajwa and Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru)
((ArsheeyaSingh.Bajwa@thomsonreuters.com; +91 8510015800;))