IMB's other ratings are affirmed at foreign currency and local currency short-term 'F2' and individual 'C/D', whereas the bank's support rating has changed to '1' from '2',
the agency said.
A stable outlook has been assigned to the bank's IDRs, reflecting Russia's IDRs. The IDRs and support rating thereby have been removed from Rating Watch Positive.
Fitch said it attributed the upgrade to the purchase by Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG (HVB), which is 94%-owned by Italy's UniCredito Italiano (UCI), of 26% of the voting rights of IMB from Nordea Bank Finland Plc. As a result, UCI has increased its stake in IMB's common equity to around 79%, from 53%.
IMB's foreign currency IDR is constrained by Russia's 'A-' (A minus) Country Ceiling, and the local currency IDR also takes account of Russian country risks, Fitch said.
IMB, one of Russia's 10 largest banks in terms of assets, was established in October 1989 as the country's first joint-venture bank with foreign participation.
