Specialist in Indian Banking and Economic Research

Hemindra Hazari

Forensic Accounting

Crisil Ltd. operates a credit rating agency in India. The Company specializes in the areas of risk identification, classification and assessment, across a broad spectrum of industries.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/crisil-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15699:1" rel="noopener">Crisil Ltd (CRISIL IN)</a> and India Rating Downgrade <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ags-transact-technologies" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23692:1" rel="noopener">AGS Transact Technologies (AGSTRA IN) </a>to 'D' from "A/Stable' post a default</li>
<li>Rating agencies exist to anticipate events such as defaults and not react after being informed of a default</li>
<li>Rating agencies ignored poor fundamentals of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ags-transact-technologies" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23692:1" rel="noopener">AGS Transact Technologies (AGSTRA IN)</a> in 2QFY2025 results which clearly and publicly revealed deteriorating cash flows and a high-risk financial strategy</li>
</ul>



Crisil Ltd (CRISIL IN) and India Rating Downgrade AGS Transact Technologies (AGSTRA IN) to 'D' from "A/Stable' post a default
Rating agencies exist to anticipate events such as defaults and not react after being informed of a default
Rating agencies ignored poor fundamentals of AGS Transact Technologies (AGSTRA IN) in 2QFY2025 results which clearly and publicly revealed deteriorating cash flows and a high-risk financial strategy


Ever-Vigilant CRISIL, India Rating Downgrade Firm – After Default

Equity Bottom-Up

Axis Bank Limited provides a full range of banking services throughout India. The Group's activities include retail banking, investment management, merchant banking, treasury and NRI services, cash and credit management services, and ATM facilities.

<ul>
<li>2 Heads of Audit in 1 month with another replacement within 6 months</li>
<li>Audit head in a bank is a highly sensitive post and the banking regulator recommends a minimum tenure of 3 years for the post</li>
<li>Internal audit in Axis Bank has become a major concern which should worry investors</li>
</ul>


2 Heads of Audit in 1 month with another replacement within 6 months
Audit head in a bank is a highly sensitive post and the banking regulator recommends a minimum tenure of 3 years for the post
Internal audit in Axis Bank has become a major concern which should worry investors


Farcical Saga of Axis Bank’s Chief Audit Executives

YES BANK Limited provides banking services. The Bank offers deposits, personal loans, e-banking, trade finance, corporate, and business banking services. YES BANK serves the food and agribusiness, life sciences, healthcare, biotechnology, telecommunications, media, information technology, and infrastructure development industries in India.

<ul>
<li>Reconstructed board of Yes Bank implemented an ill-conceived, poorly executed retail strategy to revive the bank</li>
<li>Structural problem of low net interest margin and high overheads not resolved</li>
<li>Retail assets strategy characterised by low yield, high operating cost and rising credit cost which the bank has finally acknowledged</li>
</ul>


Reconstructed board of Yes Bank implemented an ill-conceived, poorly executed retail strategy to revive the bank
Structural problem of low net interest margin and high overheads not resolved
Retail assets strategy characterised by low yield, high operating cost and rising credit cost which the bank has finally acknowledged


Yes Bank’s Retail Therapy Proves Expensive

<ul>
<li>Sudden resignation of Ravi Narayanan Group-Head in charge of retail branches, retail liabilities and third party products as he wishes to pursue entrepreneurship.</li>
<li>Possible explanation is that the bank like other banks is finding it difficult to raise retail deposits and pressure is building up on senior management</li>
<li>Bank has a high LDR and reportedly the banking regulator is demanding the bank to lower its LDR. This will have consequences on future loan growth or on NIM</li>
</ul>


Sudden resignation of Ravi Narayanan Group-Head in charge of retail branches, retail liabilities and third party products as he wishes to pursue entrepreneurship.
Possible explanation is that the bank like other banks is finding it difficult to raise retail deposits and pressure is building up on senior management
Bank has a high LDR and reportedly the banking regulator is demanding the bank to lower its LDR. This will have consequences on future loan growth or on NIM


Axis Bank Incubates a New Entrepreneur -- Its Head of Retail Branches

<ul>
<li>Axis Capital is a 100% subsidiary of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/axis-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:768:1" rel="noopener">Axis Bank Ltd (AXSB IN)</a> and one of its businesses is structured finance</li>
<li>The Sojo Infotel is a high-risk transaction undertaken by Axis Capital which was underwritten by the company with the implicit support of the bank as per the credit rating agency</li>
<li>When the transaction was done it was 50% of Axis Capital's equity and default risk is high as the redemption date is on March 25, 2024</li>
</ul>


Axis Capital is a 100% subsidiary of Axis Bank Ltd (AXSB IN) and one of its businesses is structured finance
The Sojo Infotel is a high-risk transaction undertaken by Axis Capital which was underwritten by the company with the implicit support of the bank as per the credit rating agency
When the transaction was done it was 50% of Axis Capital's equity and default risk is high as the redemption date is on March 25, 2024


Is Axis Capital an Investment Bank or a Hedge Fund?

Is a Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) registered research analyst with over 25 years experience in the Indian capital markets with a specialization in banking and economy research and has managerial experience of establishing profitable equities business, leading and mentoring analysts.  He has worked with prominent foreign and domestic capital market firms such as UBS, Societe Generale, HSBC, ASK Raymond James  and Karvy Stock  Broking and is a regular guest on business media channels and is respected for his non-consensus view on stocks and the market.