Fitch Ratings is looking to hire analysts for its newly established Moscow office, which is set to open in about a month, says Paul Taylor, group managing director in London. The office will be headed by Natasha Page, managing director, and will eventually house 10 analysts. Taylor says the office will be staffed by a combination of new hires and internal transfers.
Taylor says Fitch currently rates 60 deals from Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The new office is being established to meet demand from Russian companies seeking to issue international debt, as well as a growing demand from local corporate players for local debt ratings.
Not many Russian corporates have done international deals since 1998, however, that is expected to change, says Taylor. In addition, there is demand for rouble-denominated paper from local investors--especially pension funds--and local players are increasingly seeking local currency ratings.