OREANDA-NEWS. June 8, 2012. According to the agency, the rating increase reflects steady and systematic development coupled with falling sensitivity to securities market risks.

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 significant exposure to securities market risks, modestly diversified lines of business and a modest overall market share.

SDM-Bank is a mid-sized (by assets) private-sector bank that is effectively controlled by 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 service locations operate in the Moscow region and branch activity elsewhere centres mainly on SME loans. Securities market activity expanded in response to the recent crisis.

ZAO RusRating is an independent rating agency accredited by the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation . The company was set up in 2001 and is a member of the GlobalRating group. Its primary services are the provision of credit ratings to banks, industrial firms and their debt instruments; it also provides analysis of various aspects of the Russian financial sector.