West Coast Paper Mills Ltd has closed its trading window for designated persons and insiders effective October 1, 2026. The restriction will remain in place until 48 hours after the declaration of the company's unaudited financial results for the quarter and half year ended September 30, 2026.

This closure is pursuant to Regulation 9 of the SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015. The move ensures compliance with the company's Code of Conduct regarding insider trading during sensitive periods leading up to earnings announcements.

Compliance Details

The trading window closure applies to all designated persons covered under the company's internal Code of Conduct. The specific timeline for the restriction is as follows:

The company informed both BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd of this development in a filing dated September 28, 2026. The communication was signed by Brajmohan Prasad, Company Secretary.

West Coast Paper Mills shareholders approved the company’s financial statements for FY26 and declared a final dividend of ₹3 per equity share during its 71st Annual General Meeting on August 17, 2026. The meeting also saw the reappointment of several key directors, including Joint Managing Director Virendraa Bangur and Executive Director Rajendra Jain.

The company reported robust operational performance for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026. Revenue from operations stood at ₹2,498 crore, while Profit After Tax reached ₹154 crore. Management highlighted a healthy EBITDA margin of 15% and a strong balance sheet with a net worth of ₹2,824 crore and negligible debt. Statutory Auditors Singhi & Co. and Secretarial Auditors NGJ & Co. issued unqualified opinions on the financial statements.

Operational Highlights

The paper division at Dandeli operated near full capacity with an installed manufacturing capacity of 3,20,000 MT. Production for the year was 3,19,933 MT, while sales reached 3,20,567 MT. The cable division in Mysuru and Hyderabad produced 109,564 kilometers of cable, with sales totaling 108,022 kilometers. A backward-integrated Optical Fibre Draw Tower was successfully commissioned to enhance raw material availability and reduce production costs.

What the Numbers Show

The near-parity between production (3,19,933 MT) and sales (3,20,567 MT) in the paper division indicates efficient inventory management and strong demand absorption. With sales slightly exceeding production, the company likely drew down existing stock, suggesting tight supply conditions or robust customer uptake during the period.

Governance and Resolutions

Shareholders passed all ordinary and special resolutions by requisite majority. Key appointments included:

• Reappointment of Saurabh Bangur as Non-Executive Director.
• Reappointment of Prakash Kacholia as Independent Director for a three-year term ending November 8, 2029.
• Reappointment of Virendraa Bangur as Joint Managing Director for three years, with remuneration capped at 5% of net profits.
• Reappointment of Rajendra Jain as Executive Director for two years.
• Appointment of Umesh Kini as Cost Auditor for FY27 with a remuneration of ₹2 lakh plus taxes.

The Chairman noted that per capita paper consumption in India remains significantly lower than global averages, indicating long-term growth potential. The cable business is expected to benefit from government initiatives like BharatNet and 5G rollout.