OREANDA-NEWS. National Rating Agency has raised its reliability rating on AK BARS CAPITAL AM LLC to 'AA'. The outlook for the rating is stable. The company's first-time individual reliability rating of 'A-' from NRA was assigned in 2007 and affirmed each consecutive year until it was raised to 'A+' in 2010. The rating was affirmed at this level in 2012-13, and raised to 'AA-' in 2014.

The upgrade is driven by the increase in assets under the company's management (AuM) and the maintenance of AK BARS CAPITAL's leading market position in its home region, as well as the company's growing capitalization and earnings generation capacity. In addition. NRA notes the company's consistently implemented growth strategy, its long track record of successful operations in the Russian stock market, its experiences and highly skilled specialist team and strong operating standards. The fact that AK BARS CAPITAL has a well-articulated growth strategy and implements it consistently ensures the strengthening of its position in the asset management market going forward.

The rating is constrained by the high proportion of captive AuM in a number of the company's business lines and the AuM's remaining high exposure to low-liquid instruments.