Research

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The default by the unlisted Altico Capital India (erstwhile Clearwater Capital Partners India Private Limited), a “Systemically Important Non-Bank Finance Company” owned by marquee foreign shareholders, is a resoundingly loud and clear warning to the capital market on the precarious state of NBFCs and the...

On May 12, 2017, Yes Bank, released its annual report for the year ended March 31, 2017 where the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) mandatory disclosure showed that for the year ended March 31, 2016, the bank’s gross non-performing assets (NPAs) was higher by 5.6x to Rs49.3bn...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The deadline (December 31, 2018) for Uday Kotak, the founder-CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMB), to dilute his stake to 20% has come and gone, and shareholders await the wrath of the banking regulator. The regulator had already given an...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Indusind Bank’s reckless decision to provide a Rs 20 bn (8% of the bank’s capital) unsecured bridge loan to IL&FS, an insolvent infrastructure company has led to a significant de-rating of its valuation multiple. In the 3QFY2019 results call, Ramesh Sobti,...

For the last 5 years, the profitability of HDFC Bank, India’s largest bank by market capitalisation, has declined even though its critical net interest margin (NIM) has remained constant. Interestingly, to maintain its pristine margin, the bank has focused on taking on more risk in the form of unsecured retail loans....

Romesh Sobti, CEO, Indusind Bank, is a veteran banker with 43 years’ experience. He recently went on record to defend the bank’s substantial bridge loan to the fast-collapsing IL&FS, a systemically important non-deposit-taking core investment company. Sadly, he found this writer’s earlier insight on Indusind to be...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. An internal memo of an anonymous former senior official of ICICI Bank’s risk management department, publicised by the Indian Express, provides a damning indictment of the credit appraisal and monitoring processes at the bank. It reveals how basic banking processes were violated, and public and...

Post this report and the subsequent media coverage, the Indian government changed the selection policy of appointment of SBI chairman solely on the basis of seniority.

HDFC Bank RBI divergence story shows, the huge number of analysts and journalists deliberately ignored and continue to be oblivious to a story that is staring at them in their face and it is in this void that independent research can flourish and prosper.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Yes Bank has appointed Ravneet Gill as the bank’s CEO, effective latest from March 1, 2019, for a 3-year term. The announcement led to a spurt in the bank’s share price, as the leadership issue was finally resolved.  While investors rejoiced,...