THIRD TEAM
Vikash Mantri ICICI Securities
Investors hold ICICI Securities’ Vikash Mantri, who lands on the third team, in high regard for “independent views,” says one sponsor, highlighting an October downgrade of Zee Entertainment Enterprises from buy to hold, at 144.84 rupees. Mantri insisted that management had so focused on short-term earnings that the Mumbai-based news and entertainment production company was ill-equipped to compete with a rash of new competition. By the end of May, the shares had slipped 5.3 percent, to Rs137.10; during the same period the sector slid 7.5 percent. “Vikash isn’t always right, but he is a straight shooter,” attests another stalwart.