SAO PAULO & RIO DE JANEIRO & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings has today assigned an initial 'M1'(bra)' National Asset Manager Rating to BTG Pactual Asset Management S.A. DTVM (BTG Pactual Asset). BTG Pactual Asset is a full subsidiary of Banco BTG Pactual S.A. (BTG Pactual; FC and LC IDRs 'BBB-'/Stable Outlook), one of the largest Brazilian merchant banks.
BTG Pactual Asset's 'M1'(bra)' National Asset Manager Rating reflects the benefits of being part of the BTG Pactual group, which has a strong reputation in its business segments, including asset management. The group has a well defined structure and investment philosophy, supported by experienced management and robust risk controls. The strong connections with the group and the development of synergies have been translated into optimization of its team and costs, as well as the use of consistent, comprehensive and well formalized management practices and processes, risk controls and compliance, which have favored the asset manager's development.
The customer and product base still shows concentration and presents lean management and control teams, which will be some of its main challenges for development in the next few years. However, Fitch believes that investments in technology and continued improvement in tools and systems can accommodate the growth expected going forward, even understanding that the growth projected for 2011 is aggressive and depends upon local economic growth and the capacity to attract foreign investors.
BTG Pactual Asset's rating does not contemplate its asset management activities overseas, the wealth management and private banking areas and/or those related to funds-of-funds managed by third parties, which have their own processes and policies and are segregated from the management of proprietary funds.
After having declined from BRL71billion in December 2007 to BRL55billion in June 2009, due mainly to the global financial crisis and the shareholder control change, the volume of funds under management rose to BRL69billion in October 2010, accompanying the improved economic environment and in line with local industry growth.
Pursuant to the group's strategy, the asset manager also intends to increase its overseas presence, taking advantage of the greater flow of funds to Brazil and the relationship coming from its foreign shareholders (sovereign funds and traditional families), which acquired a capital participation in the fourth quarter of 2010. This strategy has been well planned, with the establishment of brokerage firms in important financial centers expected to benefit the diversification of its investor base and growth in 2011. BTG Asset projects an AUM growth above that of the local fund industry, which Fitch considers ambitious, but feasible, depending on local economic growth and its capacity to attract foreign investors. Nevertheless, the increase in the financial operations tax (IOF) rate on foreign operations in October 2010 could jeopardize this strategy in the short term.
BTG Pactual Asset, like other important asset managers, keeps focused on the growth of more sophisticated funds. It has been prominent in the higher profitability multi-market segment, with good fund profitability rankings in Brazil. The competition with other asset managers continues to be intense, and now additional competition is expected from other funding products of BTG Pactual, especially time deposits, since the bank intends to increase its lending activities significantly, albeit with moderate leveraging.
There were no significant failures to comply with limits in 2010, and the asset manager maintained its great emphasis on fund liquidity. Although slim, Fitch recognizes the efficiency of the asset manager's market and liquidity risk areas.
BTG Pactual Asset is responsible for third-party asset management at the BTG Pactual Group, one of the largest merchant banks in Brazil. It accounted for the management of BRL60 billion in resources in October 2010, ranking as the seventh largest asset manager with a 4.5% share of the local market and around 15% of the multimarket segment.
The 'M1(bra)' rating is assigned to asset manager operations demonstrating the lowest vulnerability to operational and investment management failure.
The rating may be sensitive to material adverse changes to any of the aforementioned rating drivers. A material deviation from Fitch guidelines for any key rating driver could cause the rating to be lowered by Fitch. For additional information about Fitch asset manager ratings guidelines, please review the criteria referenced below, which can be found on Fitch's web sites at 'www.fitchratings.com' or 'www.fitchratings.com.br'.
Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
--'Reviewing and Rating Asset Managers' (Aug. 13, 2010);
--'National Scale Asset Manager Rating Criteria' (July 2, 2010).
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
Reviewing and Rating Asset Managers
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=547947
National Scale Asset Manager Rating Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=536665
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