OREANDA-NEWS. National Rating Agency has placed its reliability rating on Russian Standard AM LLC on its Watchlist with indefinite implications. The company was assigned NRA's first-time reliability rating of 'A' on Oct. 15, 2012. The rating was upgraded to 'AA+' on Jan. 23, 2014.

The indefinite outlook reflects the ongoing integration of the asset manager's business following its take-over by the BCS Group. NRA will monitor the situation and take appropriate rating action depending on how things go. The company's current reliability rating is valid till its withdrawal or revision. NRA believes that the company's management is currently capable of making managerial decisions and controlling risks and thereby enabling the company to maintain high operating standards and honour its commitments in full and in a timely manner.

The company has a strong position in the mutual fund asset management market. It is a market leader by the volume of assets under management. NRA notes its strong earnings generation capacity, healthy liquidity position, as well as the low level of risk in its assetsunder management. Russian Standard AM demonstrates efficiency in managing clients' portfolios. The company employs a high-qualityrisk management system, and NRA views positively the qualifications and experience of its management team. The take-over by the BCS Group is expected to help expand the company's pool of investment products through the use of supplementary products, services and technologies developed by BCS under the strategic partnership with the company.

NRA also notes that Russian Standard AM has made cooperation arrangements with BCS on comfortable terms.