Indian Accounting Research Analyst, Trudence Capital Advisors

Nitin Mangal

Indian Accounting Research Analyst

Trudence Capital Advisors

Trudence Capital Advisors Private Limited is a SEBI-registered Research Analyst, holding SEBI registration number INH000015747. Our firm is dedicated to providing independent and unbiased research on Indian mid to large-cap companies. Trudence Capital is known for its counter-consensus views, with a focus on forensic research and on-ground primary investigations. Our research approach is thorough, involving detailed analysis of accounting practices and governance, alongside extensive channel checks.

Independent & Unbiased Research

Forensic Accounting

Emerald Finance Limited is a financial services company. The Company offers banking products and financial services to corporate and retail customers, as well as provides artificial intelligence based loan management solutions. Emerald Finance serves customers in India.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/emerald-finance-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:44167:1" rel="noopener">Emerald Finance (EMERALD IN)</a> is a Chandigarh-based NBFC. Since receiving its NBFC license in 2015, Emerald has broadened its offerings to include personal loans, business loans, and Early Wage Access.</li>
<li>The Company focuses on retail and MSME lending and acts as a loan origination platform for over 40 financial institutions through its subsidiary, Eclat Net Advisors Private Limited.   </li>
<li>Onto the forensics, there are unsecured loans to RPs, representing 15% of the networth, large amounts of cheques-in-hand reflected under Other loans and advances and incorrect calculation of EPS</li>
</ul>



Emerald Finance (EMERALD IN) is a Chandigarh-based NBFC. Since receiving its NBFC license in 2015, Emerald has broadened its offerings to include personal loans, business loans, and Early Wage Access.
The Company focuses on retail and MSME lending and acts as a loan origination platform for over 40 financial institutions through its subsidiary, Eclat Net Advisors Private Limited.   
Onto the forensics, there are unsecured loans to RPs, representing 15% of the networth, large amounts of cheques-in-hand reflected under Other loans and advances and incorrect calculation of EPS


Vishal Mega Mart Private Limited operates as an online apparel store. The Company offers tops, shirts, skirts, jeans, dresses, palazzo, and other related products for men and women. Vishal Mega Mart serves customers in India.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vishal-mega-mart" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:44041:1" rel="noopener">Vishal Mega Mart (1620871D IN)</a> IPO worth INR 80 bn is about to open this week. The IPO constitutes entirely of OFS. </li>
<li>The company is one of the top 3 offline first retailers, the most diversified retailers and caters to middle income and lower income group, largely in Tier 2 locations. </li>
<li>As far as forensics are concerned, one must pay attention to exorbitantly high attrition levels, rising related party transactions, few puzzling line items noticed in books, etc.</li>
</ul>



Vishal Mega Mart (1620871D IN) IPO worth INR 80 bn is about to open this week. The IPO constitutes entirely of OFS. 
The company is one of the top 3 offline first retailers, the most diversified retailers and caters to middle income and lower income group, largely in Tier 2 locations. 
As far as forensics are concerned, one must pay attention to exorbitantly high attrition levels, rising related party transactions, few puzzling line items noticed in books, etc.


Investment Strategist, Transparently.AI

Mark Jolley

Investment Strategist

AI detection of accounting fraud and manipulation

Transparently.AI

Fraud and manipulation of their numbers see companies lose USD1 trillion+ per year for their stakeholders. Transparently.AI has developed an AI system that determines:

1. The likelihood that a company is committing fraud/serious manipulation of their books;
2. Whether it is serious enough to result in total corporate failure;
3. Estimated $ losses to stakeholders;
4. How that manipulation/fraud evolves through time; and
5. Detailed analytics on the forms of manipulation/fraud (e.g. which parts of the accounts, what tricks of the trade, questions for analysts to ask management, where/how to investigate further, etc.).

This is effectively automating the analysis of forensic accountants, activist short sellers, credit analysts, etc to do work that would typically take weeks per company, and instead run it in seconds and for thousands of companies simultaneously.

Critically, this solution frequently alerts users to the presence of serious manipulation risk up to 2-3 years in advance of the wider market and short sellers becoming aware of problems.

Macy's, Inc. operates department stores in the United States.  The Company also operates direct mail catalog and electronic commerce subsidiaries. Macy's retail stores sell a wide range of merchandise, including men's, women's and children's apparel and accessories, cosmetics, home furnishings and other consumer goods.

<ul>
<li>Department store chain delayed 3Q earnings report, pending investigation into accounting discrepancies</li>
<li>Investigation scheduled to end by Dec. 11. Discrepancies involved the incorrect recording of small package delivery expenses.</li>
<li>Transparently's AI-powered system highlighted several red flags that align with this manipulation. The system could have warned Macy’s board and investors there were problems afoot. </li>
</ul>


Department store chain delayed 3Q earnings report, pending investigation into accounting discrepancies
Investigation scheduled to end by Dec. 11. Discrepancies involved the incorrect recording of small package delivery expenses.
Transparently's AI-powered system highlighted several red flags that align with this manipulation. The system could have warned Macy’s board and investors there were problems afoot. 


Unpacking Macy's (M) Accounting Problems With AI

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

HKBN Ltd., provides telephone voice and data communications services. The Company offers wireless internet service, IDD and IPTV service, local telephony services, and other value-added services.

<ul>
<li>
<strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-mobile-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27:1" rel="noopener">China Mobile (941 HK)</a></strong> was a logical suitor for <strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hkbn-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:289:1" rel="noopener">HKBN Ltd (1310 HK)</a></strong>. A non-PRC (or government-affiliated) corporation taking over a media/broadband/telco in Hong Kong is probably a non-starter.</li>
<li>China Mobile has a made a <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/1202/2024120203351.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pre-conditional voluntary Offer</a> at HK$5.23/share, a 40.97% premium to undisturbed. The price is final. </li>
<li>Pre-Cons are the usual suspects (NDRC, Mofcom &amp; SASAC). The Offer itself conditional on a 50% acceptance hurdle, with 24.96% in the bag. The intention is to maintain HKBN's listing. </li>
</ul>



China Mobile (941 HK) was a logical suitor for HKBN Ltd (1310 HK). A non-PRC (or government-affiliated) corporation taking over a media/broadband/telco in Hong Kong is probably a non-starter.
China Mobile has a made a pre-conditional voluntary Offer at HK$5.23/share, a 40.97% premium to undisturbed. The price is final. 
Pre-Cons are the usual suspects (NDRC, Mofcom &amp; SASAC). The Offer itself conditional on a 50% acceptance hurdle, with 24.96% in the bag. The intention is to maintain HKBN's listing. 


HKBN (1310 HK): China Mobile's "Fair" Tendering Offer

Market & Forensics Analyst, Beat the Street

Nimish Maheshwari

Market & Forensics Analyst

Beat the Street

Beat The Street was founded by Nimish Maheshwari and Sudarshan Bhandari, both of whom are Chartered Accountants by Profession, known for their expert analysis in the fields of Business, Sectoral analysis, and Corporate governance.

With a strong social media presence of 45,000+ Subscribers across various platforms, they are considered trusted voices in the industry. Their insights and analysis have been featured in some of India’s most prominent publications, including the Economic Times, Dalal Street Investment Journal, The Morning Context, and The Ken.

Their analysis on Bankrupt & Insolvent companies has been instrumental in saving investors from significant losses. They have a keen eye for identifying red flags and has identified exclusive redflags earlier in Vedanta, Nykaa, Dhani Services, Adani and many more.

Read Business Not Stock Prices

CE Info Systems (MapmyIndia) / Forensic Accounting

CE Info Systems is India’s leading provider of advanced digital maps, geospatial software and location-based IoT Technologies, as per Frost & Sullivan (F&S).

CE Info Systems (MapmyIndia) (1052633Z IN)

<ul>
<li>MapmyIndia decided to hive off its B2C business to a promoter entity which will be funded and backed by the current listed entity.</li>
<li>Hiving off loss-making business will lead to margin improvement for the listed entity but will increase the cash burn to fund loss-making business</li>
<li>Departure of current CEO, taking funding from listed entity to fund this loss-making business where Promoter has the stake raises corporate governance issues.</li>
</ul>


MapmyIndia decided to hive off its B2C business to a promoter entity which will be funded and backed by the current listed entity.
Hiving off loss-making business will lead to margin improvement for the listed entity but will increase the cash burn to fund loss-making business
Departure of current CEO, taking funding from listed entity to fund this loss-making business where Promoter has the stake raises corporate governance issues.


Strategic Decision by MapMyIndia: Segregating B2C and B2B Businesses – A Detailed Analysis

Accounting Diagnostics, Red Flags, Short-sell risk

Forensic Accounting
Accounting Diagnostics, Red Flags, Short-sell risk

Emerald Finance Ltd- Forensic Analysis

Emerald Finance focuses on retail and MSME lending, acting as loan origination platform for over 40 FIs. Forensic concerns include unsecured loans...

Nitin Mangal

Vishal Mega Mart IPO- Forensic Analysis

Vishal Mega mart is one of the large value-retailers and caters to middle/lower income groups in Tier 2 locations, but high attritions, notices...

Nitin Mangal

Unpacking Macy's (M) Accounting Problems With AI

Department store chain Macy's delays 3Q earnings report due to accounting discrepancies involving small package delivery expenses, Transparently's...

Mark Jolley

HKBN (1310 HK): China Mobile's "Fair" Tendering Offer

Say a conservative six months to secure reg approvals, and an additional two months to complete the Offer - I'd pay ~HK$4.95/share - perhaps up to...

David Blennerhassett

Strategic Decision by MapMyIndia: Segregating B2C and B2B Businesses – A Detailed Analysis

MapmyIndia hives off B2C business to promoter entity, raising concerns about corporate governance, capital allocation and cash burn

Nimish Maheshwari

Emerald Finance Ltd- Forensic Analysis

Emerald Finance focuses on retail and MSME lending, acting as loan origination platform for over 40 FIs. Forensic concerns include unsecured loans...

Nitin Mangal

Vishal Mega Mart IPO- Forensic Analysis

Vishal Mega mart is one of the large value-retailers and caters to middle/lower income groups in Tier 2 locations, but high attritions, notices...

Nitin Mangal

Unpacking Macy's (M) Accounting Problems With AI

​Department store chain Macy's delays 3Q earnings report due to accounting discrepancies involving small package delivery expenses, Transparently's...

Mark Jolley

HKBN (1310 HK): China Mobile's "Fair" Tendering Offer

Say a conservative six months to secure reg approvals, and an additional two months to complete the Offer - I'd pay ~HK$4.95/share - perhaps up to...

David Blennerhassett

Strategic Decision by MapMyIndia: Segregating B2C and B2B Businesses – A Detailed Analysis

​MapmyIndia hives off B2C business to promoter entity, raising concerns about corporate governance, capital allocation and cash burn

Nimish Maheshwari

Department store chain Macy's delays 3Q earnings report due to accounting discrepancies involving small package delivery expenses, Transparently's...

MapmyIndia hives off B2C business to promoter entity, raising concerns about corporate governance, capital allocation and cash burn