OREANDA-NEWS. October 09, 2015. RusRating has raised the credit rating of Bank FC Otkritie from "AA" to “AA+” on the national scale and from "BBB" to “BBB+” on the international scale, in both cases with a stable outlook.*

The rating increase reflects completion of the key stages of the Bank’s integration into the FC Otkritie group, a substantial reinforcement of its market positions, and increased lobbying capacity in both business and political circles.

The rating itself is based on a solid and well-developed presence in chosen markets at the national level, a stable client base and the support of the Bank’s owners, who are well placed to lobby in both political and business circles.

Constraining factors include high credit risks and weakening financial indicators against a background of macro-economic stress.

About the Bank

Bank FC Otkritie is a major private-sector bank and one of Russia's top five credit organisations. It was created out of the former NOMOS-Bank in June 2014 when the Otkritie Financial Corporation (renamed Otkritie Holding) acquired a stake and subsequently integrated its business with those of other major banks that now form the Otkritie Financial Group: Khanty-Mansiiski Bank Otkritie and Trust Bank, whose financial rehabilitation is being overseen by the group in partnership with the Deposit Insurance Agency. Another major bank, Petrocommerce, was merged into Bank FC Otkritie in June 2015. No one shareholder controls a majority stake in the Bank or the group; major investors include Otkritie Corporation founder V. Belyaev plus shareholders in the pre-integration structures (IFD Kapital, the East Group, the LUKoil-Garant pension fund and A. Mamut), as well as R. Aganbegyan and VTB; some shares circulate freely on the Moscow Exchange. Bank FC Otkritie is the hub of the group’s banking business and its own operations centre on the provision of loans and other services to larger corporate clients, the financing of gold and silver production and the export and domestic sale of precious metals. It is also a notable player in trade finance and investment banking.

Capital is sufficient and on the basis of balance sheet figures its quality is rated favourably. External funding is solid and moderately well diversified by type, although corporate client resources are the largest component of liabilities and of these half originate with investment and asset management companies; the Bank’s large-scale debt burden is modest. Asset quality is rated satisfactory, due mainly to concentrated large-scale credit risks and exposure to affiliated parties, with elevated securities market risk another contributing factor. Earnings performance is likewise satisfactory. Overall risk sensitivity is moderate. Liquidity is judged solid, sufficient and appropriate to the nature of the Bank’s operations.

*The ratings are unsolicited