OREANDA-NEWS. RusRating has changed the outlook on SDM-Bank (JSC )’s credit rating from “stable” to “positive”. The rating itself is unchanged at “A+” on the national scale and “BB+” on the international scale.

According to the agency, the positive outlook reflects the Bank’s steady development coupled with stable and healthy financial results.

The rating itself is based on the presence of the EBRD as a capital investor; strong management; solid market positions in the Bank’s core line of business; and healthy asset quality, as well as broadly stable and satisfactory financial indicators.

Constraining factors include modestly diversified lines of business and a modest overall market share.

SDM-Bank is a mid-sized private-sector bank that is effectively controlled by its co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors A.Y. Landsman; the EBRD acquired a 15% stake in the spring of 2011. The Bank has an extensive client base and its business is to a significant extent focused on services for smaller and mid-sized companies, along with retail deposits. Most offices are located in the Moscow region and branch activity elsewhere centres mainly on SME loans. Securities market activity expanded in response to the recent crisis.