OREANDA-NEWS. February 16, 2015. Fitch Ratings has maintained the National Fund Credit Quality Ratings of Investec Money Market Fund (AA+(zaf)) and Investec SteFI Plus Fund (AA(zaf)) on Rating Watch Negative (RWN).

Fitch has simultaneously affirmed the National Fund Volatility Ratings at 'V1(zaf)' for the Investec Money Market Fund and 'V2(zaf)' for the Investec SteFI Plus Fund.

KEY RATING DRIVERS
The RWN is driven by the funds' exposure to African Bank following the bank's receipt of emergency support on 10 August 2014 from the South African Reserve Bank. As a result, holders of senior and wholesale debt instruments issued by African Bank had their holdings written down to 90% of face value while subordinated instruments were written down to zero (as mandated by the regulators). The RWN reflects the potential for further credit deterioration or negative effects on instrument prices, pending the completion of the resolution of African Bank.

As of January 2014, the Investec Money Market Fund had around 1% exposure to African Bank senior debt across two instruments, both of which matured in 2014. These instruments have not yet been paid out, pending the resolution of African Bank. The Investec SteFI Plus Fund had exposure of around 3.6% comprising some instruments that have matured, others which will mature in March and September 2015 and a minority of longer dated instruments.

Fitch will resolve the RWN when the African Bank debt instruments are redeemed. This will eliminate uncertainty regarding African Bank's credit profile and instrument pricing.

The affirmation of the National Fund Volatility Ratings is driven by the stability of their market risk profiles, consistent with the ratings.

RATING SENSITIVITIES
Fitch will affirm the National Fund Credit Quality Ratings if the African Bank exposures are removed from the funds. This could be driven by the action of the fund sponsor - for example through the use of side-pocketing as has been used in other rated funds in South Africa - or through the pay out of residual African Bank exposures at the expected price.

Fitch will downgrade the National Fund Credit Quality Ratings in the event that the credit profile or pricing of African Bank instruments deteriorates resulting in a material negative impact on investors. Fitch will also take into consideration the length of time these funds are exposed to African Bank and the extent to which the African Bank holdings become a structural feature of the funds.