Understanding Ratings of Various Rating Agencies ICRA INTRO: An ICRA Rating is a symbolic indicator of ICRA's current opinion on the relative capability of the corporate entity concerned to timely service debts and obligations, with reference to the instrument Rated. The Rating is based on an objective analysis of the information and clarifications obtained from the entity, as also other sources considered reliable by ICRA. The independence and professional approach of ICRA ensure reliable, consistent and unbiased Ratings. Ratings allow investors to factor credit risk in their investment decision. ICRA Rates long-term, medium-term, and short-term debt instruments. ICRA offers its Credit Rating services to a wide range of issuers including: - Manufacturing companies - Banks and financial institutions - Infrastructure sector companies - Service companies - Municipal and other local bodies - State governments - Non-banking finance companies - Small and medium sector entities LAAA The highest-credit-quality rating assigned by ICRA. The rated instrument carries the lowest credit risk LAA The high-credit-quality rating assigned by ICRA. The rated instrument carries low credit risk. LA The adequate-credit-quality rating assigned by ICRA. The rated instrument carries average credit risk. MAAA The highest-credit-quality rating assigned by ICRA. The rated deposits programme carries the lowest credit risk MAA The high-credit-quality rating assigned by ICRA. The rated deposits programme carries low credit risk. MA The adequate-credit-quality rating assigned by ICRA. The rated deposits programme carries average credit risk. The rating of LAA+ and MAA+ are one notch higher than LAA and MAA respectively, while LAA- and MAA- are one notch lower than LAA and MAA respectively. CARE INTRO: CARE is an independent rating agency promoted by major banks and financial institutions in India . The three largest shareholders of CARE are IDBI Bank, Canara Bank and State Bank of India . CARE is a board managed company with eminent professionals on the board. The entire Board comprises of Independent Directors. CARE is the only rating agency in India which operates with an independent rating committee comprising of senior and reputed professionals. CARE Ratings are recognized by Government of India and regulatory agencies in India . CARE is registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India. CARE Ratings are also recognized by RBI, NABARD, NHB and NSIC. RBI has also recognized CARE Ratings as an eligible external credit rating agency for the purpose of Basel II implementation in India CARE AAA Instruments with this rating are considered to be of the best credit quality, offering highest safety for timely servicing of debt obligations. Such instruments carry minimal credit risk. CARE AA Instruments with this rating are considered to offer high safety for timely servicing of debt obligations. Such instruments carry very low credit risk. CARE A Instruments with this rating are considered to offer adequate safety for timely servicing of debt obligations. Such instruments carry low credit risk. As instrument characteristics or debt management capability could cover a wide range of possible attributes whereas rating is expressed only in limited number of symbols, CARE assigns '+' or '-' signs to be shown after the assigned rating (wherever necessary) to indicate the relative position within the band covered by the rating symbol. CRISIL Intro: CRISIL Ratings is India's largest rating agency, having rated more than 11,026 debt instruments, of more than USD 454 billion (Rs.22,51,590 crores), issued by over 5716 companies. CRISIL Ratings has a 70 per cent penetration in the domestic debt market. CRISIL Ratings rates virtually every kind of organisation, including industrial companies, banks, SMEs, non-banking financial institutions, insurance providers, mutual funds, infrastructure entities, state governments, and urban local bodies. It also rates securitised paper. FAAA ("F Triple A") Highest Safety | This rating indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment of interest and principal is very strong. | FAA ("F Double A") High Safety | This rating indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment of interest and principal is strong. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for fixed deposits with 'FAAA' ratings. | FA Adequate Safety | This rating indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment of interest and principal is satisfactory. Changes in circumstances can affect such issues more than those in the higher rated categories. | Fitch Intro: The Fitch Ratings Banks Group has actively built the agency into the global leader in bank credit rating coverage. Our experienced analysts provide comprehensive, timely and transparent coverage of every major institution around the world, as well as unparalleled coverage of smaller companies. Our analysts offer a diversity of talent and backgrounds, with experience in regulatory oversight, investment banking, buy-side investing, accounting and more Fitch's credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving their money back in accordance with the terms on which they invested. Fitch's credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets. "Investment grade" ratings 'AAA' indicates relatively low to moderate credit risk |